Every wine has a personality, but it’s even more fascinating to discover the personality behind the wine. Today we share the story of Katie Jones, an Englishwoman who runs the beloved Domaine Jones winery in France’s historic Languedoc region. Katie has been our guest in person many times, hosting wine tastings at Loki at least once a year!
How it all began
Katie Jones was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, a historic market town nestled in the National Forest in Leicestershire, Central England. The town’s ornate name has Norman French origins dating to the 11th century. In 1993, Katie moved from Leicestershire to the Languedoc, taking a job with the local cooperative winery Mont Tauch. It would be 15 years before she established her own business.
While France can be challenging for foreigners to settle in, Katie had unknowingly been preparing for this transition long before considering a career in winemaking. Ashby-de-la-Zouch is twinned with Pithiviers, a town in France’s Loiret department, 50 miles south of Paris. The local Twinning Association, established in 1960, counted Katie’s parents among its active members. They participated in international exchanges that continued for over 60 years until 2020. Members from each town would visit and stay with families in their twin city—an excellent opportunity for Leicestershire residents to immerse themselves in French language and culture.
Taking up the challenge of French winemaking
Childhood experiences laid the foundation for Katie’s future career and happiness in France – even her first job was in Paris, although she’d travel South later in her career. While working at the Mont-Tach cooperative in Tuchan, she met her husband Jean-Marc Astruc, a generational winemaker. During this time, Katie’s family purchased their first small vineyard in the Maury commune in Southern France, though it initially operated as a side business without its own brand.
During her tenure at Tuchan, Katie progressed from sales assistant to export sales director before transitioning to independent business ownership. She and Jean-Marc found their niche focusing on old vines, minimum intervention, and traditional methods that give their vintages authentic expression. In 2008, Katie established her own winery, guided by Jean-Marc and consulting with friend David Morrison, an Australian winemaker known as a data expert and wine blogger with expertise in old vines and wineries.
Successes and setbacks
Domaine Jones produced its first batch of about 8,000 bottles in 2009. The hard work paid off—this batch won two silver medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards. By 2013, they were producing 15,000 bottles annually.
The journey wasn’t without setbacks. Their entire 2012 vintage—3,000 litres of wine—was destroyed when someone sabotaged the tanks in their garage winery while Katie and Jean-Marc attended a trade fair in Germany. The likely motivation was jealousy, as their award-winning vintages commanded prices several times higher than the local cooperative’s wines.
In response, Katie and Jean-Marc bottled a limited batch of rosé “Après la Pluie” (Sunshine after Rain), sourced from a friendly neighbour, and raised funds globally to rebuild their business. The crowdfunding campaign was a success on social media, with sales reaching about 30,000 bottles in just 48 hours.
Wine brings people together!
Like sunshine after rain, Katie’s business emerged stronger with support from the international wine community—particularly after her story went viral on Twitter. This increased awareness led to a dramatic boost in wine sales, allowing for vineyard expansion. Today, Katie owns 15 small vineyards spanning over 12 picturesque hectares in the historic Languedoc region within Occitania. Wine lovers from around the world can now tour her vineyards, and not just in person. During lockdown, Katie began streaming her morning vineyard work on Instagram Live. Some of the videos are also available on her YouTube channel. The crown jewel of this collection is a small Fitou appellation vineyard with century-old vines. Want to join the exclusive wine club? You can adopt an old vine—one that might even be older than you!
To conclude
Being a foreign winemaker in France is a challenge, which comes with certain risks, but also remarkable rewards. Katie Jones’s story stands as a testament to perseverance in this challenging world. Her story not only showcases the triumph of entrepreneurial spirit but also demonstrates how cultural bridges can lead to extraordinary achievements in the world of wine. Through challenges and victories, Domaine Jones has emerged as a testament to the rewards of following one’s dreams, no matter how far from home they may lead.
