logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
26m 30s

Heart and Soul: Glorifying God through w...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

When Father Père Basile was 12 years of age, he started thinking of a religious life. But it never crossed his mind that he would someday be living in a cloistered abbey in the south of France producing wine. This monastery has incredible history as it is the site of the oldest papal vineyard in the world, dating back to the 14th Century. When Pope Clement V moved the papal capital from Rome to Avignon in France, his palace needed a steady stream of wine and so the vineyard was planted in Le Barroux. Presenter Colm Flynn travels to the abbey to meet Fr Père Basile, and hears his amazing story of growing up as the son of wealthy, world-travelling diplomats, and turning his back on that to pursue a deeper calling in life.

Up next
Today
Brazil's Miracle: an Indigenous disaster
During the Brazilian military dictatorship, the Krenak indigenous people were banned from speaking their language, imprisoned in reformatories and forcibly displaced from their land. In 2024, the State asked them for forgiveness. Can it be granted? Journalist Pūlama Kaufman trave ... Show More
49m 32s
Yesterday
Tackling loneliness in India
India is known for its close knit families and communities, but modern work practices mean more and more people are living far from home, and suffering from loneliness. Reporter Sumedha Pal in Dehli shares the stories of some of the people in India who are trying to find creative ... Show More
26m 28s
Yesterday
Trump and autism: People affected speak out
President Donald Trump recently addressed what he described as the “horrible crisis” in autism, and rapid rise in reported cases over the last two decades. Previously, he has suggested a link between some vaccines and autism, and in his latest remarks, he warned pregnant women to ... Show More
22m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Les moines brasseurs (The Beer-Brewing Monks)
At age 27, Matthieu Landri said goodbye to his family and shared one last beer with his friends…then began his new life as a Benedictine monk. He longed for a spiritual life of contemplation and prayer. But soon he found himself embarking on a new journey: reviving the lost Frenc ... Show More
23m 53s
Jun 2022
Traditions iconiques - Beaujolais Wine
In the grand French tradition of winemaking, Beaujolais Nouveau wine was once the cool kid on the block. But when wine connoisseurs felt it went too mainstream, they turned their backs on it. So wine lover Anaïs Pertuizet decided to make a new kind of Beaujolais Nouveau, one that ... Show More
23m 46s
Dec 2022
Women with a passion for wine
Kim Chakanetsa talks to a multi-award winning wine expert from France and a young sommelier from Kenya who was part of the first all-female team to take part in the World Wine Blind Tasting Championships 2022. Pascaline Lepeltier was studying for a PhD in Philosophy when she swit ... Show More
28m 2s
May 2019
El maestro del vino (The Wine Master)
Héctor Vergara escaped dictatorship in Chile in the 1970s and fled to Europe, where he landed in the restaurant industry. There he discovered a passion and talent for wine that led him to become the first Master Sommelier from Latin America. But his biggest impact on the world wo ... Show More
24m 4s
Jul 2023
Texas Wine Revival: From Vine to Glass
Join us as we explore the story behind Texas’s emerging wine industry in today’s episode.Although California and Washington are often considered the main attractions for exquisite vineyards and wine production in the United States, the Lone Star State is an underdog of sorts in t ... Show More
27m 15s
Jun 2022
28. Mapping Out Wine's Origins with Dr. Patrick McGovern
Farrah speaks to Dr. Patrick E. McGovern, the Scientific Director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia. He's the author of many books including Ancient Wine: The Search for th ... Show More
56m 35s
Oct 2023
The Miracles of St Francis
Of all the saints, St. Francis of Assisi stands out for his deep love for animals and nature. His day is celebrated on the 4th of October, and it's a time when people around the world remember his teachings of peace and kindness towards all creatures. St Francis was born in the I ... Show More
7m 29s
Sep 2022
Life in soil: Tasting the earth in France
Writer and environmentalist Isabelle Legeron is in France to see how cultivating a healthy soil, teeming with fungi and microbes, can enhance the flavour profile of food and drink - from cheese to coffee to wine. She explores the fundamental role soil plays in the notion of “terr ... Show More
27m 48s