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This tart is so easy and can be made using practically any seasonal fruit. I used small purple plums but use apricots, greengages or apples.

Picking in the Loire is still in full swing as we approach the end of September.

I absolutely love figs and this is one of my favourite recipes so I was excited to see beautiful fresh purple ones at the market this week.

Harvest is in full swing here in the Loire and yesterday I had the chance to participate in a little picking with friend and wine producer Louisa Plou.

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

Nigel cut down the mint a few weeks ago and it’s now pushing again so I cut a big bunch today and made a fresh summer salad that I enjoyed for lunch.

We had a wonderful day yesterday with lovely folks from San Fransisco, New York and Denver. The sun shone and the conversation flowed easily.

We spent a couple of hours with Juliette and Peter Hahn on Saturday as they prepare for the 2019 harvest. The 2018 will be bottled tomorrow.

Haute Valeur Environnementale is a new certification that encourages and recognises efforts made by vine growers to work with respect to the environment.

It’s a while since we opened a bottle of Savennieres as we’ve been immersing ourselves in the wines of Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire since we moved east.

Just a few more pics of grapes that have suffered badly with all the heat this summer. These grapes won’t be picked for making wine as there is no juice.

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