Domaine Manguin Poire Williams
Domaine Manguin has been expressing its know-how and passion for fruit brandies for 60 years. Between the Palace of the Popes of Avignon and the Charterhouse of Villeneuve-les Avignon, this place is marked as the largest river island in Europe and conceals a terroir of sand and silt, swept by the mistral suitable for growing fruits, full of the sun of Provence. It is in this exceptional setting that Emmanuel and Béatrice Hanquiez, the owners of Maison Manguin, create spirits of excellence by drawing inspiration from the charm of the island which gives way to emotions. With finesse and listening to their senses, they have created gourmet and delicate products that offer a palette of colorful flavors. The creations of Maison Manguin promise you a sweet and warm taste walk in the heart of Provence, beating in these bottles.
In the middle of the Rhone River just beyond the walls of Avignon is the Île de la Barthelasse, home to Manguin Distillery and the heart of Poire Williams Eau de Vie country. Centuries ago, the island was connected to the mainland by Avignon’s famous bridge, which now extends only part-way across the water. In 1940s, Claude Manguin (son of Fauvist painter Henri Manguin) started an orchard full of Poire William (Bartlett) pears and peaches some of the very fruits that are now imprisoned on the branches inside glass bottles.
Every spring, Manguin Distillery puts over 1000 of their famous pears in “jail” in the bottles and magnums in which they sell their famous pear brandy allowing the fruits to mature directly in the bottle. The distillery is a family run operation with only a staff of five people in total. They have a deep history and passion for crafting these artisanal spirits.
About Poire Williams Eau de Vie: Poire Williams is the name for eau de vie (colorless fruit brandy) made from the Williams pear (also known as Williams' bon chrétien and as the Bartlett pear in the United States, Canada and Australia). It is generally served chilled as an after-dinner drink. Some producers of Poire Williams include an entire pear inside each bottle. This is achieved by attaching the bottle to a budding pear tree so that the pear will grow inside it as is the case with Domaine Manguin.
