Blog

The Chenin Blanc grapes are now coming in as harvest continues here in the Loire valley.

As we countdown to harvest it looks like 2019 may prove to be a tricky year for winemakers.

More scorching weather and no rain for weeks. Young vines are dying and grapes are sunburnt. July has been another trying month for growers in the Loire.

It’s 42 °C here in the Loire today. The third day of intense heat that is seeing growers in the Loire start to worry about their grapes.

Say hello to our new kitten Pesto! She arrived a week ago and seems to be settling in nicely.

We have a mobile wine bar that comes to the village every Wednesday evening. The wines are interesting and include wines from the Loire and elsewhere in France.

Well it’s been a strange month. For the first three weeks of June the weather was rather dull and cool and then we got a shock!

Franco/American couple Matt and Katie Perradeau are brewing American craft style beers using French ingredients. We popped in yesterday to have a taste and to wish them good luck.

The beginning of May saw another few days when the temperature dropped below zero. Growers were out in force all through the night lighting fires, burning candles and pumping water from the Vienne trying to minimise the damage.

Chateau Gaillard is a beautiful Renaissance chateau in the centre of Amboise that has been lovingly restored and has delightful gardens.

Growers in Vouvray, Montlouis sur Loire, Saumur Champigny, the hills of the Layon in Anjou and Savennières braced themselves for another sleepless night.

April has been an eventful month in the Loire valley vineyards with temperatures dropping well below zero on both the 4th and 14th of April.