It’s my Vineyard

Where shall I begin? In the last few days we have been continuing to make arrangements for the vendanges. As I have said earlier, this year we are in charge of the management of our whole production whilst we continue to market the fine Beaujolais wine around the world, taking care of our loyal customers and courting new ones.

Responses have been coming thick and fast to our advertisements for grape pickers and for porters to fill the ‘bennes’, huge plastic containers that will be lifted by hopefully young, strong arms onto trailers, we interview people who can work in the cuvage to furnish the cuves or vats with grapes that will start their fermentation and then be carefully transferred to the pressoir to extract the juice from unwanted matter.

Fred finds a vendange pump at a village ‘porte ouverte’ designed for taking the wine from vat to press. We answered an advert for some ‘Bennes’ and find they are sold but instead we buy the farmers three and a half ton trailer for a hundred euros!  It will be perfect for bringing the grapes from the vines to the cuvage.  The gentle giant of a farmer sadly having to give up his vines due to ill health, looked at least pleased that this faded green majestic wagon would once again be put to work.

Paulo, a larger than life local vigneron called in one day, we had tasted his Regnie in his den of a cave in early June and discussed our needs for the coming harvest.  He arrives with a vigneron friend who would be available to aid the 2007 vinification process, we taste our Regnie together, very positively received.  Paulo sits at the head of our kitchen table, he has a shock of wild curly greying hair and a huge beak of a nose. At one point reaches for a box of matches, opens them, and rather delicately for such a large man proceeds to poke one into an ear whilst continuing his raconteuring and the emptying of his glass! Sylvan, his friend, may well be a possible for us, he has an excellent reputation as a vigneron, a charming manner, round smiley face and strong weather worn arms.

The team from the Quincie co-operative came to inspect our vines with a view to buying half our grapes. They were extremley positive, our vines are in excellent condition. I don’t know why but I had made some Shrewsbury biscuits, like shortbread with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla, which we ate with coffee and were much appreciated. We think they will want to go ahead with us, we wait to hear in a few days after discussion with the President!

Tonight our friend from Morgon arrived with yet another President, or rather ex President of ‘Inter Beaujolais’, the organisation in Villefranche who, amongst other activities, are responsible for the administration and promotion of Beaujolais wines. He could be another expert who is willing and ready to give us his professional advise. We tasted both our 2005 and 2006 Regnie. Fred and I were delighted at his positive response, of course we know its good but it is particularly encouraging to have such praise from a person with his experience and knowledge.