FrançaisHarvest 2017
The 2017 harvest is over. The grapes have been picked, fermentation has finished and we pressed the wines a couple of days ago. Quantity is excellent but very, very small quantities. Here are some photos of the 2017 harvest. Handpicking, (very) small batch vinification, pressing and, finally, a praying mantis basking on some grape skins.
Harvest 2017
Harvest 2017
harvest 2017
harvest 2017
Pressing Syrah
Pressing Carignan
Mante religieuse
It’s a bug’s life in the vineyard
Some bugs in our Carignan vineyard
The vineyard is a busy with bugs at the moments. Mercifully none that are harmful to the grapes. These photos were taken yesterday in our Carignan vineyard.
This elegant fella is difficult to spot. First time I’ve seen one of these this year.
Green stick insect
Cicadas are everywhere at the moment. Dive-bombing their way through the vineyard and making a racket. The sound of the mediterranean.
Cicada resting on vine
Ephippiggers are very striking. This one is very green but they also come with black stripes and look like humbugs.
Ephippigger or bush cricket
The ubiquitous snail. More in our garden than in the vineyard.
Friday photo – Syrah grapes
Syrah pre veraison
This very green photo is of a fine looking bunch of Syrah grapes. The next stage is ‘veraison’, when the grapes turn red which should start in 2 to 3 weeks.
The whole vineyard is looking extremely green at the moment. The vines are much bushier than last year thanks to the plentiful rainfall we have had in the spring and also this week. It is also very noisy in the vineyard. The cicadas are in full voice and are very active, dive bombing as you walk along the rows.
Read MorePruning
Pruning Syrah
Started pruning the Syrah today. Sunny with a light breeze so perfect weather for it. So nice that the ladybirds ventured out too.
Pruning Syrah
Rainy days
Raindrops on …vines!
Last year was one of the driest on record, which is why we are very happy that it has been raining for several days now. The road up to our vines was impassable yesterday.
And when we did manage to get past it this morning, we found a very large rock partially blocking the track. Looks like another one will join it soon too.
The graph below shows how dry 2016 was compared to the previous (average) year. The rainfall stats come from a weather station in Azillanet, about 20 km from us. Mailhac actually had even less rain, which explains why our yield was so low in 2016.
That’s why we are so happy that there is so much at the moment, to top up those all important reserves of water which will sustain the vines during the growing season.
Read MoreHarvesting Syrah and Carignan
Harvest 2016, cont’d
We have harvested the rest of our Syrah and all of our Carignan.
Ripe, healthy grapes but tiny yield
The grapes are perfectly ripe and beautifully healthy – just not many of them. The Carignan grapes are particularly small so we decided to co-ferment the Syrah and Carigan, with the Syrah providing more juice. So there will be no 100% Carignan from 2016.
Here are some photos from the day.
Carignan – why the low yields?
Carignan
Carignan harvest
Syrah harvest
