Tending
and cultivating respect for the vine and work well done
The Vines
The leaves start to fall with the first winter frosts. November to March is when the vines rest during their dormancy period.
WINTER
Vine tending and winemaking
– In the vineyards
January and February are the months that form the foundation for the next harvest. The first stage is pruning (Goblet or Guyot depending on the appellation), as well as feeding the soils that need it with manure.
– In the cellar
Here, we refine our vinification to get the very best from each terroir. This is when we mature our wines.
The Vines
The beginning of the growth cycle is mid-March. After their months of rest, sap starts to flow to the branches. Next come bud-burst and cane and leaf development.
SPRING
Vine tending and winemaking
– In the vineyards
This is when we :
- bud the vines so that the sap can nourish the canes that with carry the bunches of grapes.
- work the soils (mechanical weeding, aeration) to improve rain penetration and life in the soil, and thus, vine development.
- plant new plots for future generations
– In the cellar
This is when we :
- bottle our wine.
- hone our maturing wines
- present our new vintages to our customers… and reintroduce them to older ones.
The Vines
At the beginning of June come the first flowers. They turn into individual grapes that will gradually swell and change colour between July and August, when they load up with aromas, flavours and sugar.
SUMMER
Vine tending and winemaking
– In the vineyards
This is when we :
- tie up the canes
- trim the vines
The aim is to encourage fruit development and even ripening.
Then comes harvesting season: it is time to bring in the fruit of a year’s work with the help of our pickers, who join forces with us for around a fortnight.
– In the cellar
In order to get the very best cuvées, we take great care thoroughly cleaning all our vinification equipment and the vatroom, ready to welcome the grapes we will be vinifying during the harvest.
The Vines
The end of the growth cycle. The leaves change to beautiful autumnal colours for the delight of anyone visiting our region.
AUTUMN
Vine tending and winemaking
– In the vineyards
This is when we
- replace missing vines with new ones
– In the cellar
Once the harvest has finished, work in the cellar continues.
Maceration of the cuvées, pressing and fermentations contribute to extracting the aromas and flavours and the tannins from the grapes, transforming them into wine.
