Start of the Harvest: Night Attack
September 17th 2008, by GQ
We began the harvest this morning at 4 o’clock. We’ve hired the same man and his impressive machine that we’ve used since 2006, bringing in the grapes really cold and fresh before dawn. The flavours of the sauvignon blanc, from early ripening young vines, are superb. And with the early start, a Full Moon and the chill of the night, the grapes are fresh, crisp and juicy - with little risk of oxidation as they come into our winery within minutes of being picked.
Constant Gardening
September 3rd 2008, by GQ
It’s the end of the holidays and the children are back at school. Or, to be more precise, schools, as they are at four different schools this year. Three are in the local town, Créon, while Sophie goes to Carignan a few miles away. Throughout the summer, we try to keep the grounds looking sharp, and the work continues well into the autumn, with no shortage of visitors around harvest time. Our small team are polyvalent, or multi-purpose, so Nellie is equally at home on the lawnmower as she is labelling bottles, packing cases, or racking red wine from one barrel to the next.
Ground Control
August 29th 2008, by GQ
We’re taking advantage of some hot, dry weather before the harvest to rectify a problem underfoot in a parcel of young merlot vines, planted on gravel and clay soils. When we planted them a few years ago, I didn’t realise that a slight incline from right to left would result in deep troughs being carved out by rain water running down the slope, cutting away at the same channel each time it rained. These channels have made it dangerous to drive down the rows with a tractor. So we asked a friend with a ‘minipelle’ to help us sort it out. With Daniel beavering away in the vineyard, I wasn’t going to hire a digger and make a complete hash of it. And it’s very hot.
Keeping the Vines in Trim
August 27th 2008, by GQ
The end of August is often thought of as a quieter time in the vines, but with intermittent rain in the last fortnight, we have to be vigilant against the threat of mildew. As I wrote here, the sprayer we bought in 2006 has proved to be a great investment for the three seasons so far, especially in the tricky years of 2007 and 2008.
Daniel, the guvnor, is back from his annuals and is out there trimming the vines. As well as keeping the vines in good shape, it’s a preventative step against mildew when timed correctly. The row on the right has been given a short back and sides, while the row on the left is about to be snipped.