The main topic of conversation this week is the WEATHER. The vines’ development is delayed. We’re expecting a much later harvest this year. Some varieties, such as the Syrah (Shiraz) have yet to flower, such is the delay because of unusual cooler conditions.

Vines still need to be sprayed until the grapes have set. Wine growers in the hills forecast a vendange three to four weeks later than usual.

Here where we are, nearer the coast, we’ve also had cold winds, colder night time temperatures and rain like you wouldn’t believe.

Visitors find it hard to believe we get rainstorms like on this video. It pours from the roof and makes a river running out under the gate.

Here’s what also happens during storms. We lose our satellite television. Right in the middle of the French Open final!

Himself and I have continued our daily walks. And I’m still adding to my collection of photos in and around the vineyards.

Here are some pictures featuring grey skies, just so’s you can see we do get them sometimes!

Fortunately, when we do get bad weather, it doesn’t last too long. We know the sun will soon be showing its face again.

Here’s the latest close-ups on our Mademoiselle. I didn’t know the spider was there till I uploaded the photo.

After the rainstorm, the temperature rocketed. Yesterday, we notched up 31 degrees in the same place where the rain was bouncing off the floor a few days ago.

There’s hardly a cloud in the sky. We think the summer has finally begun.

And to prove it, here’s this morning’s sunrise. Follow the line of the sun to see what she’s lighting up – our Merlot!

It must be an omen.

Cheers!

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Coming soon on Wednesday Languedoc Vinewatch – an interview with a Master of Wine who now grows her own.

Himself and I have been walking further through the vines. HImself has been cycling of late as previously reported and has discovered new tracks to explore. Well, motion is lotion, as they say so we have been striding out, camera at the ready to report what we find.

We found Monsieur Joseph. Here he is in his vineyards at the lower part of the village, cutting back the excess growth on his vines. He doesn’t know it, but I borrowed his name for a character in one of my stories. However, Monsieur Joseph is quite a character himself.

In his eighties now, Joseph came from Spain with his wife to start a new life. His daughter moved to England and now teaches in a Manchester school. We are delighted to know the whole family. Every summer we meet for drinks and food and for the local fiestas. Joseph likes to enjoy himself and still dances  a mean foxtrot.

The weather remains very changeable. Here’s why.

There is STILL snow on the peaks of the Pyrenees. The shifts in temeperature are unusual this year. We’ve had cold night blasts at 5 degrees rising to 26 degrees in the afternoon. Now we learn there’s heavy rain forecast. These are the spring storms we expect in April, not now it’s nearly June.

When the wind drops, the growers are out with their spraying equipment again. This morning there was gridlock at the water pump where a queue waited to top up the tanks.

It was cold enough for top coats at 8am.

We’re all wondering when the real summer is going to arrive.

But, the countryside views are stunning. I’ve never seen it look so green. There’s actually grass growing in the verges. Green grass.

There are twenty growers in our village who send their crops to the wine cooperative – the Vigneron near the centre. They grow a variety of grapes and our Fleurs de Montblanc wines are loved by all who taste them. As well as the coopertive growers, there are four separate domains who produce and bottle their own labels. In the photograph above, Domain Prunelle benefits from its sheltered slopes.

And so, what about our Mademoiselle Merlot? How is she doing? See for yourself:

She’s in a spot that’s fairly sheltered from the worst of the winds here. So, I’d say she’s looking pretty damned good. Look at the close up where the baby grapes are forming.

Walking through this beautiful wine-growing country is a real pleasure. And the best pleasure is yet to come: chilled Cinsault in a dewy glass with some savoury nibblies. Or, gently warmed by next winter’s log fire, our Merlot – a Languedoc ruby – precious as blood.