Tagged with "wine education"

You walk into a winery and the sound of fermentation fills your ears as the barrels bubble away turning ripe grape juice into wine.

Yesterday we went to see Arnaud Herivault of Domaine d’Orfeuilles in the Vouvray appellation. He was preparing preparation 501.

It’s a while since I worked with the Languedoc. A vast region that stretches from the border with Spain right across to Nimes.

As the grapes for the 2021 harvest come in, thoughts turn to the subject of chaptalisation. Have you any idea what it is?

Walk into any cellar in the Loire valley during harvest time and the chances are you’ll see wooden barrels with lots of chalk scribbles on the side.

All systems go here in the Vouvray appellation today as the 2021 harvest kicks off.

The ban de vendanges is set for Thursday 24th September here in the Vouvray appellation. That means; from the 24th, growers can pick grapes.

So, the Loire is off! They’ve started picking Chardonnay in Anjou, Saumur and Touraine. These grapes are destined for sparkling wine.

The Fiefs Vendéens? Is that part of the Loire? Where is it exactly? What kind of wines come from there?

The good news is – more and more growers are addressing the issue of biodiversity in the vineyard. Seed mixes planted between the rows, new hedges and plants that attract insects

There are two types of mildew that commonly affect vines – downy mildew and powdery mildew. Growers in France call downy mildew mildiou and powdery mildew oïdium.

In recent years we’ve had a lot of sunny seasons with temperatures exceeding 40°C. What effect does that have on the vines, their fruit and the wine?