Jean-Pierre Alaux: a passionate man!

I was born in Cahors, 66 years ago, so I have an attachment to the Lot valley that is visceral. Afterwards I made my career as a journalist in Bordeaux, Toulouse and Paris. But my cradle is the Lot valley, I know all the nooks and crannies. I'm only good there, and when I was away before I knew that it was enough for me to come to the Lot to recharge my batteries. Consequently, I always managed, even when I was stationed in Bordeaux or Toulouse, to have a house here in Albas, which was then a writing house. I also had one in Labastide du Vert where I came on weekends to write my novels and my articles [...]. Today I have been Mayor for two years Albas, and also vice-president of the community of communes of the Lot valley and the vineyard, in charge of Tourism.

The Lot Valley remains very well preserved finally, it was not too damaged by the constructions of the 60s. The Lot valley is above all a fertile valley where there are vines, tobacco... So at the time we gave in land to build some subdivisions, but nevertheless it was done on the margins, so thatwe have a Lot valley which has kept its specificities. [...]

Alors Albas was not touched because it was protected, just like Saint-Cirq-Lapopie [...]. Albas, it was a second Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, but which has not been too touristically frequented. We realize that this village has substantially the same assets: we are on the former residences of the Bishops of Cahors, which tasted good. Each time they planted a castle, they were certainly defensive, but they managed to make the architecture beautiful. So we have a Lot valley which has many assets, but as far as tourism is concerned... People who come to the Lot go first to Rocamadour and Padirac, and incidentally to Cahors, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Figeac but they forget this part of the Lot valley which is nevertheless the part dedicated to the vine and the wine. Gold Cahors is known for its vineyards, and it is precisely between Cahors et Vire-sur-Lot. We need to develop wine tourism because Cahors is known for its wine, but we have to make sure that people drag their gaiters into the vineyards and there, there is work to be done in this direction [...]. 

Alors yes oenology, I am the author of the television series “Le sang de la Vigne” with Pierre Arditi, so I have a passion for wine. My name is “Alaux” but I generally don't just drink water! After yes finally I like my region, I have several strings to my bow, but I'm kind of trying to be an ambassador for this region because I love it and it has a lot to offer and it needs to be preserved.

There is the greenway which will also be a fantastic asset. It must be made a priority so that it becomes a reality quickly [...]. You know we think of retirees who go to the Côte d'Azur because the sun is guaranteed, but we could very well bring them to our Lot because the sun is also there, and there are beautiful landscapes and we have heritage and a diversity of our terroirs. When you're in Martel it has nothing to do with Montcuq, that's our strengths. [...] 

Already we can say thank you to Georges Pompidou who allowed the AOC decree to be issued in the 70s. This wine which was considered harsh, strong, has become more and more elegant thanks to the young generation of winegrowers who have transformed this wine from Cahors and who did a remarkable job.[...] but there is still a lot of work to do so that the Cahors come fully into mind. But it's a great change, which we owe to the young generation of winegrowers who are between 30 and 40 years old, who have been able to develop for export, so much the better.[...] We knew the Cahors, it had a somewhat archaic, somewhat dusty image, which is well put forward thanks to these wine musketeers, the young producers, who did a very good job everywhere. From Vigouroux to Gaudou's castle... There are plenty of winegrowers who have worked for more elegant, supple wines, more in line with what consumers expect.

I believe that when you are a journalist you are one until the end of your life. Journalism is curiosity, writing for me is a way of life, a way of making people dream too, telling stories. As for the responsibilities, it was chance that wanted me to be Mayor, they came to get me. And from the moment I was elected, I said to myself if you are elected at least that you do something positive about it, that's why I took tourism because that is what is closest to my occupations and then heritage and then development. So I mix the three with Iespère a bit of harmony but pfff I do all three at the same time. Like M. Jourdain who wrote poetry without knowing it, I do politics without asking myself too many questions; the important thing is to move the files forward, that we always talk more about the Lot and rather in good way.