Wine, privacy and ICC sanctions fears: why George Clooney moved to France

George Clooney’s move to France has often been linked to his opposition to Donald Trump, but the actor’s decision to seek French citizenship was also driven by a mix of personal, practical and legal reasons. The Clooneys’ 170-hectare Provence estate includes an 18th-century chateau, pool, ornamental lake, lavender garden, boules pitch, olive grove and a 20-acre vineyard planted 25 years ago by agronomist Laurence Berlemont.

Local wine figures welcomed the couple. Eric Lambert, president of the Coteaux Varois appellation syndicate, said Clooney “will certainly become a new ambassador for the AOC [Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée].” Berlemont has said Clooney joined her for blending sessions, praising his “good palate” and calling him “very humble, ready to listen.” The region hosts other celebrity wine estates, including Château Miraval and George Lucas’s Château Margüi, and the Clooneys’ vineyard historically supplied the local cooperative.

Clooney is no stranger to alcohol business: he sold the Casamigos tequila brand in 2017 for $1bn. Privacy and family safety were key factors. Clooney told Esquire he worried about raising his children in Hollywood and did not want them “walking around worried about paparazzi.” France’s privacy laws are described as more stringent than Italy’s, and the secluded location of the Provence estate offers greater protection than his Lake Como villa, which can be viewed from the water.

Key Topics

Culture, George Clooney, Amal Clooney, International Criminal Court, Casamigos, Provence