Off the Beaten Path Wine: Marcillac by Mr Matha

Monks introduced vines to this northwest corner of Aveyron at the foot of the Causses as far back as the 8th century.
It is only natural then that after studying to become a priest and a stint as a clown Jean-Luc Matha became one of those  bringing new life to the Marcillac appellation.
Where a century ago 1000 hectares of vineyards existed, only 150 of them (370 acres) remain.