Category Archives: Wednesday Vine Report

what’s happening in the vineyards and progress of our chosen vine

Languedoc Vine Report #22. September 4th

We had a visit from our mayor. You remember him – he’s always out and about in our village  attending all the festivities etc.

bank dispenser
our mayor at the opening of our village cash machine
our mayor in Languedoc
our mayor enjoying wine tasting

We’d had cause to ask him to intervene on a dispute with a neighbour who was burning foul stuff every Sunday morning in his barbecue.

I’m not talking chickens here. The smoke spiralling from the chimney on his barbecue was thick and black and toxic. I took photos for proof and after we’d complained to the neighbour, we took the photos to the Mairie as evidence of our grievance.

The French do like to get behind a good grievance.

At seven o’clock every Sunday morning, smoke like this stuff constitutes a good grievance, so off we went to complain.

By the way, we have an ally in reception at the mayor’s office. She lives at the corner of our cul-de-sac and was able to verify that she too had experienced the choking black smoke.

The mayor sorted the problem and the toxic black smoke ceased.

Then, some days later the mayor showed up at our gate. We thought he’d come to check everything was okay. No, he had come with a complaint from a neighbour about our hedge being too high.

Aha! we thought. This is a tit-for-tat issue, suggested this was the case and led the mayor around our property to show that there really wasn’t a problem with the hedge.

It turned out, he’d made a mistake. It was a different neighbour about a different hedge, but because the address was so close to our smoke complaint the mayor had made the same ‘tit-for-tat’ assumption as we had. He came back to apologise for his error. I made coffee, we sat for a Franglais chat and that was when we learned the harvest is 15 days late.

Late harvest

The cold weather I reported throughout spring has indeed led to a much later grape harvest than is usual. It’s much worse in other areas in France. In the Bordeaux region, they’ve had hail as Cult Wines reports. Hailstones big as ping pong balls. Ouch! And similar problems in the Champagne region. So, I guess, we’re lucky to be only late rather than damaged. According to Monsieur le Maire, some reds may be as late as October.

I set off on my rounds as usual to see what I could find.

What’s happening this week

My next door neighbour is growing grapes over his car port.

Languedoc vines
grapes in the garden

Netting keeps the birds off. It looks as if he has a good crop for the table this year.

In the vineyards, even though everybody is playing a waiting game as far as the grapes are concerned, there are still jobs to do.

hedge trimming
clearing the path for the harvesting machines

Hedges grow rapidly in Languedoc sunshine. This winegrower is busy trimming back wild Cotinus trees that flower with pink, smoke-like tendrils in spring. These ones, however, are right at the point where the harvesters need to turn round into the next row. It’s another example of good Languedoc housekeeping.

Further up the hill, another winegrower is clearing out between the rows.

harvest preparation
getting ready

Cuttings and weeds are going into the container. He’s also smoothing ruts in the soil to prepare the way for the grape harvesting machines.

At the cooperative Vigneron, they’re running the machinery and making checks.

Languedoc wine cooperative
home of ‘Fleurs de Montblanc’ and ‘Larmes d’Alexandria’

Here is where the grapes will arrive for our lovely Fleurs de Montblanc and the new range Les Larmes d’Alexandria.

I’ll be there to film as the grapes are dropped into the chutes.

Today, they were busy checking to see everything is turning as it should.

They were running the belts.

waste collecting
where the skins go

Nothing is wasted. They collect unwanted grape skins for making compost.

This morning, they were also testing the lifting screws.

grape chute
where the grapes go

The Archimedes type screw lifts the grapes up out of the chute. Once everything gets going, the village hums. No, literally. It hums. The wine machinery hums until you get so used to hearing it, you can’t hear it any more.

Along the lanes, it’s beginning to look like autumn.

Languedoc autumn
September colours

Dried grasses and early morning mistiness add to the end-of-summer atmosphere. Snails cling to what’s left of their grazing grounds.

snail grass
hundreds of tiny snails

 

 

 

Yet when you look  closely into the vines, there’s obviously some way to go before they’re ready. In amongst all the dark reds and purples, there are green youngsters, nowhere near mature enough for harvesting.

Languedoc Merlot
not ready yet!

Back home along the lanes, I’ve spotted blackberries and other autumn fruits.

almonds
one furry almond case has split open

It’s a wonderful time of year for grandmas to take little ones out into the countryside to see what they can find.

I saw this charming couple and couldn’t resist snatching a photograph. Together, I think these two are an artist’s dream subject. I love the way the light catches them as they crouch to look at something on the path.

 

looking at insects
finding something interesting

That’s all for this week’s Languedoc Vine Report. See you next week.

 

 

 

 

Languedoc Vine Report #21 August 28th

 

Writer in Languedoc has had her short break back in the good old UK. It’s great to see family and friends and revisit old haunts.

Now I’m back to see what’s happening in the vineyards near my home in France.

Here’s this week’s photo of our Mademoiselle Merlot.

Languedoc Merlot
almost there!

Compare photos from previous weeks.

Merlot August 14th
August 14th
Languedoc Merlot
August 7th

 

 

 

Languedoc weather has been perfect for ripening the grapes. The vineyards look as if they’re ready to burst!

Languedoc vines
heavy with fruit

The whites are looking just as luscious.

Languedoc Chardonnay
yummy!

Looking back toward the village, you can hardly see the houses through lush vine growth.

Languedoc wine village
can harvest be far away?

It’s a waiting game now. A quiet time.

Many holidaymakers have already left. This coming weekend will see the last mass exodus when traffic is nose to tail at the péage. (Road toll)

Only a few visitors remain – retired folks and families with children under school age. Oh, and the bikers. Last week in August sees the Harleys and the Goldwings filling the promenade at Cap d’Agde, their owners occupying all the seats at Moules a Volonté – all you can eat mussels – or oysters. Cap d’Agde is the setting for my summer short story Aquapark Blues. Read it soon before I put up a new story.

When all the summer visitors have left, we get the beaches back to ourselves. Picnic spots are deserted. Touring dance bands are heading north. The noisiest things left are cicadas singing in the trees.

Summer holidays are consigned to memory. Soon, our village will be noisy again, with the sounds of the vendange – bringing in the grapes to the cooperative and I’ll be out and about, bringing you the sights and sounds of the grape harvest courtesy of my trusty little Coolpix. I’m a writer – I always have my camera with me. Besides, I’m one of those people who enjoys spotting something unusual. And, I usually do.

My short break in Norfolk, England brought a few surprises. On a familiar lane I found an unfamiliar sight.

vines in Norfolk
young Norfolk vines

I didn’t expect to see young vineyards stretching across Norfolk fields.

Last time I looked, the place was full of sugar beet!

There are no fruits. The plants are too young, and, I have to say, are looking a little spindly. However, I’m fascinated to find out what they’re growing under Norfolk skies, and, more to the point, what it’s going to taste like.

vineyard in Norfolk, England
vineyard in Norfolk
vines in Norfolk
a new English landscape

Oak trees and grape vines  in the same shot? Is this the changing face of the Norfolk countryside?

I’ll have to wait and see.

Join me next week when we should have news about the first grape picking.

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Languedoc Vine Report # 19. August 7th

Here’s our vine. This is the same plant we’ve been watching since week one.

Merlot vine
developing later than her sisters

She’s being a bit slow. Other bunches on the same row are turning red in advance of her.

vine changing colour
getting there!

Further along the lane and into the next vineyard and the grapes are even further on in their change of colour.

Luscious vine
Looking good!

Skies were grey this morning. Humidity was up again. I met another grower filling large plastic containers from the water pump on top of the hill by the cemetery and we had a word. He was another elderly grower, originally from Spain whose French came bursting forth with rapid Spanish intonation and left me floundering. But, I got the gist.

The Marin is to blame for the dirty weather, he said. He shook his head and pulled a face. He believes we are at least 15 days behind our usual harvest dates. The first problem was the cold weather that went on into June. Now, it’s the Marin wind, bringing coastal fog and humidity from the Mediterranean. There’s more information about this wind here on weather online.co.uk. At its worst, the Marin can lead to devastating flash floods. Let’s hope the wind changes soon.

I didn’t take a photograph of this grower. I think I’m getting a reputation amongst the old fellers in the village. I don’t want them getting the wrong impression. Fortunately, Monsieur Joseph can put them right about my marital status. Remember him? We’ve met with his family from Manchester and had a barbecue together.

Last year, the daughter was a girl. This year she’s a young woman. Groomed eyebrows and everything. Beautiful girl. How does time fly. Here am I watching the grapes grow from week to week and out of my sight massive changes are taking place. My friend’s daughter has left childhood behind. It’s cause for celebration that she is turning into such a delightful young woman, but it’s tinged with sadness for what is past. Those days are never coming back. You can’t live them again. They’re memories now. I remember saying goodbye to my daughter’s childhood.

Enough. I’ll be writing a novel about it if I don’t stop. Or, I’ll be blubbing.

I walked further. The Marin was blowing. The cicadas were still singing.

Past the cemetery and down the other side of the rise there’s a mausoleum. It’s beyond the boundaries of the cemetery itself, at the edge of a vineyard so I wonder if it’s on unconsecrated ground. I wonder who was buried here?

tomb in the vines
couldn’t bear to be parted from his vines?

Maybe next time I’m passing I’ll investigate more. I didn’t want to linger. The clouds were gathering.

vineyard lane
the way back home

Later, we had rain. The humidity is off the scale. It was too hot to sleep. I got up at 4am, put some mix in the breadmaker and switched on my trusty iMac to complete this week’s Vine Report. I hope you can sleep where you are!

Cheers! See you next time.

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Languedoc Vine Report #18. July 31st

It’s HOT. This Vine Report is going to be a short one. I haven’t the energy to walk far. My apologies to readers who look forward to lots of new photos of what’s happening in the vineyards. However, here’s this week’s photo of our chosen vine, Mademoiselle Merlot.

Merlot vine
Merlot on the turn

The sun is beating down as I stand beside the vines to take the picture. I think I might have been a little weary – it isn’t the best picture I’ve taken. My hands must have been shaking; it’s a little fuzzy. Blame it on the Féria wine.

It’s too hot to walk much further for more photographs. Fortunately, it’s only a short step to take a picture of the other vines we’ve been watching.

Across the road in the next vineyard, Chardonnay vines are plump.

Chardonnay vine
Chardonnay grapes looking lush!

Chardonnay grapes are used in Languedoc’s bubbly – Crémant de Limoux. Sometimes called Blanquette depending on who’s making it and where, it’s champagne in all but name.

Blanquette bubbly
lubbly bubbly!

We tasted quite a lot of it during the Féria. It’s a great drink for celebrations.

After the three hectic bull-packed days of the Féria, we’re all feeling a little worn as well as more than a little warm. Temperatures have held at the mid-thirties these last two weeks with nights not dropping below 26 degrees.

And the HUMIDITY! Don’t talk to me about the humidity. The Marin brings cloud from the Mediterranean and locks in the heat like a blanket. There’s no escape. Visitors from England learn why we close the windows and fasten the shutters.

Why are you living in the dark indoors? they ask from their sun beds as their skin turns red and crinkly.

For the relief of it, we tell them.

Humidity can be a huge problem in the vineyards.

Powdery mildew is a white fungal growth affecting the leaves and fruit. Affected parts may become yellow and distorted, and the mildew may kill small areas of plant tissue which falls away leaving small holes. The fungi are most prevalent in dry soils but where the air is humid. Plants suffering from drought stress are more likely to be affected. So, the growers have been out spraying and trimming again.

vines
looking toward the village

It’s a relief to reach the shade of home.

lonely bench
lonely bench

In the square outside our gate. Where is everybody? Hiding from the sun.

Home
a welcome sight

Ah! Home! Anybody fancy a cold beer?

Cheers! A bientôt!

Languedoc Vine Report #17 July 24th

Summer storms build quickly here in Languedoc. Yesterday’s forecast map looked like this:

Languedoc weather
weather map

Storms all over the place. Worse, the dreaded G means grêle which is hail. You remember Master of Wine, Juliet Bruce Jones listed hail as a wine grower’s worst nightmare at this time of year. Languedoc summer storms may be short but they can be very violent. Hail stones are sometimes enormous.The resulting damage to fruits on the vine doesn’t bear thinking about.

Incidentally, you’ll notice from the map that Tuesday was the day of St Brigitte. This is the St Brigitte of Sweden (there’s another Irish St Brigitte of Kildare). I mention this because I’m a writer and these things interest me. St Brigitte of Sweden was the only woman ever to found a religious Order. I’m tempted to make a bad joke about Hail Marys, but I better not.

Back to the weather forecast. The worst of it is further north. It appears that here in Languedoc we’ll be spared. However, the blue sky has temporarily abandoned us and the humidity has shot up again. They’ll have to keep spraying.

Languedoc grey skies
misty grey skies over the vineyards

Close up, though, things are beginning to happen. Here’s our Mademoiselle Merlot:

Languedoc Merlot
the beginnings of change

The grapes look less vivid green than two weeks ago.

By chance, I met with another wine growing friend who I hadn’t seen for a while. He suggested I have a look at his vines further up the hill. He’s the only grower in our community who grows a variety called Alicante. He told me they are always the first to redden. Robert has offered to take part in my Vine Report posts and I look forward to learning more and passing it on here.

In the meantime, here’s a photograph taken yesterday of his Alicante grapes just beginning to turn.

Languedoc Alicante grapes
turning red

Eventually these grapes will be deepest purple. I had no idea they did that! I thought they were born purple. That just goes to show how much of an amateur I am. But, you know, that word amateur doesn’t necessarily have derogatory undertones. Doesn’t it come from French lover of and before that from Latin?

So, it’s perfectly okay to be a wine amateur and write a Wednesday Languedoc Vine Report just because you love the stuff and get such a kick out of watching it grow.

Join me next Wednesday for report number 18.

Cheers!

Languedoc Vine Report #16 July 17th

water tower by vines
our decorated water tower overlooking the vines

The vines shimmer under heat haze. It is HOT.

Above our famous water tower the sky is deepest blue.

From time to time, there are distant rumbles of thunder in the mountains behind us. Sometimes we can watch thunderheads building fifty miles away. We’re glad we’re on the edge of the storm. We won’t catch the worst of it. In the vineyards, though, vines will benefit from fresh rainwater running in rivers and streams and through the gulleys into the plains.

Now is the season of celebration in all our towns and villages. Our local co-operative Vigneron held a wine tasting evening as part of summer festivities. Himself and I discovered new wines from our local producers and also from further afield.

tasting fruit of the vine
tasting the fruit of the vine with a neighbour

Here I am with TWO empty glasses. For shame!

It was a pleasant evening in the shade, sampling Languedoc’s most famous export. Our mayor always attends village events. Here is chatting with growers from Magalas.

vine growers
the Mayor enjoying sampling

Their Domaine Moulin de Lène will feature in a future Vine Report. In the meantime, here’s a link to their website. Francine speaks good English and is happy to explain their wine growing methods where they keep to a minimum chemical intervention..

However, more of that in their dedicated Languedoc Vine Report later after our visit and tasting of a full range of their products.

Other musical celebrations are held regularly through July. Five nights of fireworks culminate in the big celebration of July 14th. Thereafter, it’s time for Fiesta. Many of our villages have bull-running through the streets. The Feria is a hectic three-day celebration.

So, it made for a pleasant evening when himself and I took a table at a restaurant on the banks of the river Hérault and watched night fall with a bottle of local Rosé. Magic!

Agde
night falls over Agde
wine choosing
what shall I have?

 

 

Languedoc Vine Report #15 Master of Wine July 10th

JulietToday, we have something special on our Languedoc Vine Report.

By chance, I have a contact in the wine-growing sorority: a lady who not only holds the coveted Master of Wine qualification, but now owns her own vineyards and, together with her husband is developing her own range of fine wines under the Domaine Lou Cayla label.

Juliet Bruce Jones actually stands behind me in the Capestang Chorale Internationale where we are part of the soprano section. She has a beautiful voice. The only reason she stands on the back row is because she’s a tall lady. When it comes to knowledge about vines and winemaking, however, Juliet is right up there at the front.

As well as managing her own vineyards, she sources quality wines for international buyers and conducts tastings and workshops for consumers and trade.

I ask her to explain about the Master of Wine qualification; give us an insight into what it involves.

Juliet:
To obtain the Master of Wine qualification you have to pass a gruelling set of exams which test knowledge of all things wine, from viticulture and winemaking to marketing and selling to a global market. There are also 3 blind tasting papers where students have to identify 36 wines and answer questions on them. This requires a lot of practice and to keep a clear head it is vital to always spit the wine out! I passed the MW exam in 1998.
 
I want to know if it is mostly male-dominated.
Juliet:
There are 300 Masters of Wine worldwide, 90 of whom are women.
I know now I’m in the presence of vine royalty.
I’m thinking about dropping a curtsy.
I am curious about Juliet’s choice of location in France. I know Languedoc is the biggest wine-producing region in the world, but were there other reasons she chose to live here?
Minerve vines
Juliet:
We have always loved France and both my husband and I already spoke French so when we decided to leave the UK in 2004, France was the obvious choice. The Languedoc appealed as it has a wild, rugged beauty, like my native Scotland but with more sunshine and vines! Also, the fact that it doesn’t have a long history of fine wine production, unlike  Bordeaux or Burgundy, means that there is much more freedom to plant what you like, where you like. The great terroirs of the Languedoc are still being discovered so for a wine lover it is a tremendously exciting region.
I mention this year’s strange weather patterns. Those of you who’ve been following my Languedoc Vine Reports will be aware the weather has been unusual this year. I ask Juliet what makes for a good vintage?
Juliet:
Sufficient rain in winter to build up water reserves to see the vines through the summer (for non irrigated vineyards like ours). Good weather at flowering in May/June to ensure good fruitset, low humidity during the summer so fungicide treatments are kept to a minimum! Warm but not baking temperatures as excessive heat can cause cause severe vine stress and burn the berries. No heavy rain before or during harvest as that can dilute flavours and definitely no hail, which can be devastating. That is the weather wishlist but it rarely happens like that and yet good wines are made. This year we have had lots of rain but it has been very cold too and the vines are about 2 weeks behind last year. But it could still be a fabulous year.
I ask about future ambitions.
Juliet:
 Ambitions? To make a great Languedoc wine.
To learn how to rock climb.
To consistently sing top D with ease
Top D isn’t easy. In fact, top D is impossible for me. Juliet is referring to our choir’s recent productions of Carmina Burana where only Juliet could hit the top D in the score.
But if it’s on Juliet’s wish-list, I can guarantee she’s going to do it.
To find out more about Juliet and her wines, why not visit her website? You can contact her through her Minerve Wines website, too.
Juliet also blogs. Here. There’s also a link on her website.  www.minervewines.com                      helpinghands
Juliet's vine harvest
2012 harvesting Syrah with some helping hands.
A visit to Domaine Lou Cayla is on the cards, I think.

Wednesday Languedoc Vine Report. #14 July 3rd

High winds have continued throughout this week in the vines. Then, on Sunday, the wind stopped and the temperature soared. Here’s Sunday’s photos in the vineyards:

Merlot vine
Mademoiselle Merlot

I’m looking for a change of colour soon in our chosen grapevine. Merlot grapes are thin-skinned and mature before other red varieties.

Merlot vine
another bunch of baby grapes

Meanwhile, in the Chardonnay field –

Chardonnay vine
Chardonnay beginning to plump

Vineyards are looking full of promise. Everywhere you walk, the fields are green and lush.

vines on the hill
looks like Paradise to me!

Around every corner, there’s another fine view of fine wines in the making.

vine in wind
wind blowing through the vines

And now that the temperatures have reached the magic number, cigales (cicadas) are singing in the trees and hedgerows. It’s the boys who do the singing – rattling their exoskeleton to attract the ladies. Here’s what they sound like: cigale song video

That’s one of the typical sounds of summer in Languedoc.

You hardly ever get to see cicadas while you’re out walking. Occasionally, they’ll come into your garden. Here’s what they look like:

cicada
cicada or in French cigale

Their life cycle is unusual. The nymphs spend many years underground before emerging to live a short life as an adult winged insect with one purpose: reproduction.

So, the boys sing like crazy as long as it’s warm enough. How they make the sound is interesting and if you’d like to know more about it there’s a website dedicated to all things cicada. Here’s a link:

http://www.cicadamania.com

And now some exciting news about next week’s post. Master of Wine, Juliet Bruce Jones has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about qualifying as Master of Wine and her life as a winegrower here in Languedoc. I can’t wait. It’s my first EXCLUSIVE. Wow!

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See you next week,

Cheers!

 

Wednesday Languedoc Vine Report

Vines and villages
looking across the vines to the next village

Spraying continues in the vineyards. The vines are healthy but delayed in their development due to unusual weather conditions. A late harvest is almost certain. However, experts tell me it’s still possible for them to ‘catch up’ should the weather settle into its more usual summer pattern.

winds of the compass
a name for every wind

Winds have been keeping temperatures down. We have a variety of winds here. They all have names. The Tramontane blows from the north; its cousin the Tarral blows from the north-west. Both are powerful; sometimes it can feel as if they’re arguing with one another. They whistle through the vines and make the support wires sing like a ghostly choir.

(There goes the romantic in me coming out again!)

Notwithstanding all this wind and cooler temperatures, Languedoc looks fantastic this month. The light is an artist’s dream: it’s as if the cooler air is cleaner, fresher than usual. Colours are brighter. Evenings are superb.

Languedoc vines
vines rolling into the distance

The contrast of green foliage and red soil is perfectly complementary – exact opposites on an artist’s colour wheel. That’s what makes it so satisfying.

Our Mademoiselle Merlot is looking perky. Here she is.

Merlot vine
Mademoiselle Merlot

Vine leaves shade this bunch of baby grapes.

Apart from some wind damage to the top growth, the vines are healthy.

Growers expect a good crop even if it is a little late.

In the vineyard across the lane, the Chardonnay is well ahead. Compare the baby grapes.

Chardonnay vine
Chardonnay grapes

I’m licking my lips already. Make space in the fridge! These beauties are best chilled.

Walking through the vineyards is such a pleasure. Each month there’s something different to see.

lane through the vines
many lanes through the vines

Those dark trees along the lanes sometimes have a surprise for you. Maybe they’re almonds or figs. Maybe they are pomegranates.

pomegranate flowers
bright orange flowers on pomegranate trees

Each flower will become a bright orange pomegranate. What a wonderful picture they make!

Join me next week for the Wednesday Vine watch report. Who knows what surprises we’ll have in store?

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Wednesday Languedoc Vine Watch Report June 19th

Languedoc vines at dawn
early dawn in the vineyards

Just a short vine report this week. We have visitors from England, one of whom arrived last Saturday unwell. Making doctor’s appointments on the phone taxes my French, especially when they reply in rapid fire. I’m still working out the last few words while they’re rushing through the next three sentences.

French healthcare is among the best in Europe, in my opinion, and here in this part of southern France, we have access to some of the most up-to-date technology in healthcare. Montpellier is at the cutting edge of medical research, its teaching hospitals and research laboratories among the finest in the world. I’m sure my friend will soon feel much better.

What’s happening in the vines this week.

The growers are still spraying some varieties, notably the Syrah (Shiraz). The whites, and in particular, the Chardonnay are set now. We want them to grow fat and fill up with lusciousness.

Merlot vines
Merlot growing well
Chardonnay vines
lusty Chardonnay vines

We’ve had high humidity (75-80 %) for the last few days and again, this isn’t what we’ve come to expect at this time of year. Growers will be vigilant in their fight against powdery mildew, especially with regard to young plants in new vineyards whose leaves are more susceptible.

In our garden, we have our own plants to tend.

tomato vine
cocktail tomatoes on their vine

These cocktail tomatoes always do well here. We don’t have to restrict their height. They just keep on growing and producing.

courgettes
courgettes in flower

Courgettes also do well. These are the round variety with fruits the shape of miniature pumpkins. The flowers are a vivid yellow, a colour said to be most attractive to many garden insects.

 

Himself and I love chillies. We always grow our own. Here’s some of this year’s crop .

Still bright green, these chillies will begin to look black before they take on their hot red coats. You need a strong red to drink with spicy food. Lucky for us, we know just where to find a selection of those!

So, cheers for now! Don’t forget to subscribe at FOLLOW CELIA so you don’t miss new posts.

chilli peppers
chilli peppers

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Celia