Mike and Mireille Oakes and their boys moved from London in 1989 to plant a church in the village of Paziols, Languedoc. 30 years on, they are well integrated and very involved in the village life of Paziols where Mike and his younger son David work 12 hectares of vines for the Mont Tauch cooperative. Mike believes that living like the locals is integral to being part of the community and he is also a member of the board of growers that run the cooperative.
Paziols is nestled in the bowl of a valley, alongside the village of Tuchan which is where Mont Tauch is situated. Vine growing is the main ressource. FITOU, CORBIERES and MUSCAT wines are produced here and exported around the world.

On Monday 5th September a huge fire destroyed 1200 hectares of land in Paziols and Tuchan. As much as 250 hectares of vines were affected by the fire with some producers losing up to 50% of their year's harvest. This will also affect the plants growth for several years.

With severe drought conditions already causing what official estimates reckon could be the smallest harvest on record, the fire is a further blow to many struggling members of the local cooperative and independent vine growers.

Three of Mike's vines were touched by the fire, one of which cannot be harvested at all this year. We are very grateful for any help you may offer to support Mike and the other growers in this difficult time.

This page has been set up to enable anyone who would like to encourage these men and women and give them hope.