Blog
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Controlling weeds mechanically and using herbicide
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Open house at Domaine Filliatreau, Saumur Champigny, May 25th/26th
Domaine Filliatreau is having a ‘portes ouvertes’ on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th. Pop in to taste good quality Saumur Champigny wines and I’m sure much more.
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What does an organic vineyard look like?
As we drive around the vineyards of Vouvray it’s easy to see who is respecting the environment and who is not.
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Frost strikes again in the Loire valley in 2019
Once again frost has struck the Loire valley. 2 nights ago growers lit the burners, turned on the aspersion and cranked up the hot air turbines.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – beetroot salad with preserved lemon
This is a really delicious beetroot salad that comes from Ottolenghi’s book Simple.
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Wine education – working the soil
Growers who choose not to use chemicals to control weeds underneath the vines ‘work’ the soil mechanically or occasionally use a horse.
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What’s been going on in the vineyards in March?
Growers are rushing to get pruning finished as buds are already bursting. Young vines were at the wooly bud stage about 10 days ago.
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Guinea fowl take 2 – spicy Thai stir fry
We both prefer the dark meat, preferring the juicy, tender leg meat to the breast so last night I decided to spice up the remaining breasts! Here what you need to do make a lovely spicy mid-week dinner that requires little work and really hits the spot.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – roasted guinea fowl
Guinea fowl (Pintade) is very popular in France. It has a slightly more gamey flavour than chicken but not quite as gamey as pheasant. It’s delicious!
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What’s on the cheeseboard this month? Valençay
Valençay is one of the most famous cheeses from the Loire valley. A goat’s cheese shaped like a truncated pyramid the story goes that …
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Good restaurants in and around Amboise – La Part Belle, Rochecorbon
It can be tricky to find good restaurants in areas that receive a lot of tourists. It pays to leave the main tourist drag and explore the local villages.
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The wisteria is coming out!
One of the signs of spring that we look out for is the beautiful wisteria that grows all over the Loire valley. It’s generally out in time for my birthday!
