Breathe easy, Italians: those who were prone to grumbling about how la famiglia Clooney (and the Clooney-adjacent Hollywood scene) has affected the serene, pristine tranquility of Lake Como must now focus their attentions elsewhere: the South of France.
On Tuesday, Le Figaro reported that the actor, tequila impresario, and recently minted family man has purchased Canadel, a wine-making estate in Brignoles, an idyllic commune in western Provence. Air Mail’s most discerning spies in the South of France refer to it as “one of the most elegant houses ever.” The property sits on 420 acres of prime farmland, although currently only 20 of them are planted with vines.
It’s still a good time to snap up luxury real estate in France. Due to the lockdown, a spate of distressed-château owners were forced to put their homes on the market at deep discounts—in some cases, according to Tatler, as much as 40 percent off the peak prices. By some accounts, there are 1,500 châteaux for sale in the country.
This purchase comes at a moment when Clooney is marking a personal milestone as well—in May, he will celebrate his 60th birthday. And who can blame him for wanting to get out of town after spending much of the pandemic in Studio City, where he has maintained a home since the 90s? (Other properties in the Clooney portfolio include an English manor house located 40 miles west of London, in Henley-on-Thames.)
Our spies in the South of France refer to it as “one of the most elegant houses ever.”
In Provence, the Clooneys will be a few hours away from Brad Pitt, who recently purchased a home in the tiny village (population: 1,127) of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the Champagne region—perhaps anticipating that he may have to split his rosé-producing estate, Château Miraval, with Angelina once the divorce is finalized.
Boys’ dinner at Hôtel du Cap?
Ashley Baker is the Style Editor for air mail
