About us
Chalet Petit Tinqueur is owned by Sam Owens. A rabid Euro- and Francophile, he bought the place in May 2003 and has run winter and summer holidays here ever since.
What Sam did before this...
"I'm glad to say that I've never got stuck too far round a traditional career U-bend...
After swanning about in Cambridge pretending to do a languages degree, I spent the first 4 years of grown-up life working as a copywriter for a small/medium-sized London agency. Brilliant fun, very informal and a great place to learn lots of things. Also put me in a position to get a bank to lend me some loot to buy my first flat...
In 1999, I decided to go it alone and set up my own little writing company called netdefinition, while trying to figure out if I could get involved in the wine business as well (or instead). Eventually, I ended up sodding off to the Alps for the 99-00 season - based in Chamonix most of the time, but travelling between resorts quite a bit for work reasons. No particular plan behind it - just seemed like a good thing to do at the time.
By 2001, I'd come back to London and managed to sweet-talk a couple of other banks to lend me some dosh for more flats - I was turning into one of those lovely landlord characters…
It just sort of happened…
On a trip back to Chamonix in Jan 2003, I ended up touring the estate agents a bit more than usual and - before I knew it - I'd found a chalet and thought it seemed right to buy it! Having studied French, I always thought I'd end up with a place en France. But buying the chalet certainly wasn't part of some decade-long plan that I'd worked towards. It just sort of happened...
After putting those silky persuasive skills into action once again (this time on a French bank), I got the keys in May 2003. I spent the summer sorting things out in the chalet and generally enjoying the beautiful weather. We opened our doors in Dec 03 to the first guests and have enjoyed [almost] every moment since.
'Les Beaux Terroirs'
In Dec 2004, Sam spread his tentacles down south and bought a big old place near Avignon. Renovation work was completed in June 2005 and 'Les Beaux Terroirs' now offers 3 gorgeous holiday cottages with a swimming pool, available for self-catered lettings and guided wine tours. See www.lesbt.com for more info.