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.

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.

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!

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:

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

Meanwhile, in the Chardonnay field –

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

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

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:

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!

Not to be missed. Don’t forget to subscribe at FOLLOW CELIA – you’ll get an email to remind you there’s a new post. Your email remains private.

See you next week,

Cheers!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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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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.