Whether you live in France or are on holiday, if there's a brocante going on in the village it's worth a visit. You'll either find you a bargain très charmant or laugh at the absurd items for sale but either way it will give you a slice of real French life. As a rule of thumb a brocante is normally for the sale of second hand furniture or antiques. A Vide Grenier (empty attic) is like a British boot sale. A Bric-a-Brac Sale will be for knick-knacks of lower value. Increasing

Sud Charente is surrounded by so many world-class wine producers that for years Charentais wine has felt like not just the poor relation but the aunt locked in the attic who no-one mentions. But things are changing as more vineyards diversify from Cognac into wine production and festivals such as Gastronomades promote the innovative producers of Vin de Pays Charentais. Many of us first tasted Charente's vino on our holidays and being summer found ourselves sipping a fresh and