Pierre Amadieu and Patagonia
Patagonian Royal Institute of Oenology

   For most people, this area called Patagonia is located beyond Chili and Argentina at the very south of South America, the South of South. This wide and wild place where winds are blowing like nowhere else is also a dry place and Roger Caillois used to say about it: "Area composed of a soil your soul should be alike".

Amérique du Sud

   Patagonia could be this outstanding place but a marvelous story happened during the 19th Century and a new fame rose from it.
In 1860, Antoine de Tounens, avowed in Périgueux, leaves his Dordogne (South West of France) where he was born, alone, without any money and goes to Patagonia, his mind in the stars and wants to become King of Patagonia. At this time, Patagonia, was a country where white people were forbidden. Antoine de Tounens is walking through the country and become the first King of Patagonia thanks to God and Indians will who recognised in him the "Liberator". Aware of the danger that could represent this king (Antoine 1er) for Chili, Chilian Troups captured him put and put him in jail, blamed him before bringing him back to his country where he died the 17th September 1878 in Tourtoirac. *



Portrait du roi à l'encre
   The King is dead, his friends are laughing at him but the Kingdom is endless, the idea of Patagonia is going on through the Cabarets of the period called "La Belle Epoque", up to the General Consulate of Patagonia fonded in 1980 by the Novelist Jean Raspail. In his novel called "The game of the King", he was redefining the Patagonia adventure as a game, a fantastic spirit. In a world where everything is levelled down, dreams seem impossible to reach , in a world where Royal people are banned, Patagonia offer a chance to become King. Henceforth, the south of the south is our soul, our dream and marvelous trip. Jean Raspail naturalised Patagonian everybody who was looking for a new place of refuge, a new home or more simply a new laugh: " You could have a dream, a regret or you could cock a snook".



Portrait Jean Raspail
   Further to the naturalisation of Jean Baptiste Amadieu, he has been appointed President of the Institute of Oenology the 25th September 1995. This Institute is composed of every Patagonian in charge of an oenologist work, the vice president is J.M. Bouzereau, vintner in Meursault and Volnay, Pierre Amadieu is the Wine waiter attaché. Both select Cuvées especially for members of the Kingdom.



Picture IRPO

Jean-Baptiste Amadieu
Gigondas, 9 Mars 1999

* Pour en savoir plus sur l'aventure d'Antoine de TOUNENS, on se réfèrera à l'ouvrage de référence de Jean RASPAIL: Moi, Antoine de Tounens, roi de Patagonie.