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Sad news from Noizay this week. Those of you who read my daily blog during the lockdown will remember we had a litte mouse called Maurice.

While the action here in Vouvray has transferred from the vineyard to the cellar, the secateurs have still been snipping away in the Loire.

Harvest continued this week at Domaine Carême. On Monday the grapes for Fizzy Pink came in under blue skies with hot temperatures.

This week has been a whirlwind of hot days and happy pickers sweeping from one plot to another, bringing in the grapes for the 2020 vintage.

The week started with very sad news. The sudden death of Frederic Mabileau, reknowned top quality winemaker in St Nicolas de Bourgueil.

This week seems to have been a week of eating and drinking. Well no change there you might say. And you’d be right to a certain extent.

We’re off! Harvest has started in the Loire and the grapes are coming in. The earliest harvest in living memory for many.

Well, we can pretty much say our 2020 season is finished. Borders to the USA remain closed and this week the UK has introduced quarantine.

Another hot and sunny week in the Loire. The vineyards are quiet and one by one, the growers are leaving for their summer holidays before harvest begins.

It’s been a hot week in the Loire with us chasing the shade during the day and eating inside until the sun goes down.

It almost felt like I was back at work this week. Two great visits to taste wine and see growers – one that we know from long ago and another new one.

Kettle on, tea made, I open the door to let the cat in and what do I see? Two kittens playing on the grass. Two, no three, no four, no five.