Live jazz among the vines at Chateau de Soucherie in the Layon valley
Live Jazz and restauration sur place at the lovely Chateau de Soucherie. Jazzy Soucherie is a lovely annual event at this organic estate with amazing views over the Layon valley. Perfect for a summer’s evening.
Reservations contact@domaine-de-la-soucherie.fr
What is grattage? The literal translation from French would be ‘scratching’ but what does that mean when related to vineyards?
If you remember 2011 was a hot, sunny vintage that saw rich ripe reds and luscious whites. We opened Mathieu Vallée’s Saumur Blanc last night.
I’m calling this a squidgy chocolate raspberry dessert rather than a cake because there is no flour and it’s something you would serve as dessert rather than with a coffee in the morning or cup of tea in the afternoon (not that you couldn’t of course because it’s delicious!).
Well, it seems like we made it past the frost saints (11th, 12th and 13th May) so growers are beginning to relax as we approach the second half of May. We had one or two nights in the past couple of weeks when temperatures dropped dangerously close to zero but it seems that we are out of the major danger zone.
Many of our clients come down to the Loire for a day trip from Paris. Blessed with perfect sunny days, it’s been a pleasure to get out in the vineyards.
One record after another is being broken this year. July 2022 was the driest July since records began in 1958/9.
