Here’s how good our Languedoc Merlot is looking this morning.

Compare the photograph of our Languedoc vine with last week. Yes, just one week between photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One week of glorious Languedoc sunshine has brought about these welcome changes.

Humidity has been low; the sky purest cobalt. Temperatures have remained steady in the mid thirties with pleasant breezes. Paradise.

At dawn, I heard machinery and set off to see what was happening. The light was amazing – an artist’s dream.

The landscape was golden as syrup.

The vineyards all looked as if they’d had melted butter poured all over them. My mouth was watering.

As I walked further into the vineyards, the sounds of machinery grew louder. What were they doing out at this time in the morning?

Cutting back the extraneous growth helps keep the rows tidy and cuts down on the possibility of disease attack. First, they trim vertically, along the sides of the rows of vines.

The tractors and attachments are slim enough to travel between the rows. With the blades set in the vertical position, they trim each side of the rows of vines.

They move the cutting blades into horizontal position and trim the tops of the vines.

The finished rows are neat and tidy. KInd of like good Languedoc housekeeping.

They look as inviting as a freshly made bed.

As harvest time approaches, the growers will be testing and sampling sugar content in the grapes. Here’s a video explaining about sugar testing.

This video is from AlBeth vineyards in New York State. You can find them on Facebook. They haven’t posted anything on YouTube or Facebook for a long time. I hope that’s because they’ve been too busy.

Here in Languedoc, we’re expecting a late vendange (harvest).

And, at this point, I’m taking a short break – a trip to the UK to visit family.

There won’t be a Languedoc Vine Report next week. But, I’ll be back in time to watch the harvest and afterwards take you to our local cooperative to show you what happens to the grapes when they arrive!

Cheerio for now.

Back soon. Don’t forget to FOLLOW CELIA. I love to hear from you.