March 2, 2012
Hi AllI know, its been more than a week!Up this week: HILL TOWNS OF THE COTES du RHONE (part un)This trip we start with the little town of Seguret. This home to about 200 folks is built into the side of the hill toward the northern end of the hills – the Dentelles de Montmirail. They are the eastern border of the Rhone Valley. And it is here that most of the Cotes du Rhone Villages are situated.We start by going up to, and then past, the entrance to the town and push our way up the hillside to Domaine de Mourchon. Established back in...
read moreFebruary 18, 2012
Hello to allSince winter time is down-time here – no work in the vineyard (now that is is sold) – no winery sales (only a few clients come out this time of year) – no work around the house…not much newsSo I thought, to help get TOURS du RHONE up and running, and to keep you all entertained, I would start including in this blog a bit of a travelogue – I would go and scout-out the potential spots for touring, and fill you all in on what’s what.Every week I will strike off to visit one or more of the local...
read moreDecember 2, 2011
Hi AllWOW – I just realized how long it has been since my last update…my bad, SORRY!Fall/winter has arrived here – plants are starting to lose their leaves, and the vineyard is quiet.OK – so …. Bad news / good news As many of you know, sales have not been meeting expectations for quite some time (like forever!) and I have been struggling with how to improve that. WELL….it looks like there is no help in sight… fired lots of flares, but no rescue. So, I have had to take a drastic step. This last summer I started...
read moreJuly 31, 2011
Hi AllI know its been awhile.Summer has come to the vineyard – the vines are doing very well. Versaison has begun, with the berries starting to turn blue and purple.Its going to be a great crop this year – the plants are healthy and the fruit set we got is great – will be a very good harvest – for all of the valley!!As I have in years gone by, I took a day and traveled up to Nyons (known for its great olive oil !!!) – about 1 hour away – to see the Tour de France as its passed by. With no real hero to root...
read moreMay 18, 2011
ManWhat a difference a week makes!! Last week went really well. We got the Spring pruning (ebourgenage) done – that’s where we go through and do both pruning of wild shoots and thinning out of the shoots without flowers – to concentrate the energy into those shoots where the grapes will grow…its ALL about the grapes !! you can see how nice and neat they are. This will last another few weeks,and then they will take off again. By the time harvest comes, it will look like we’ve never been 0out there!Anyway, we...
read moreApril 29, 2011
Hello to all. Spring is busting out all over. The vineyard is growing by leaps and bounds. When I left for Seattle, just about 4 weeks ago, the vines were just starting to sprout. I had just finished fertilizing and weed controlling, and thought I had finished just in time – as both of those tasks need to be finished before the new shoots really get going. Well – once they started, they have really taken off!! The lack of sustained cold weather over the winter has allowed the vines to awaken about 2 weeks earlier than usual, and...
read moreMarch 30, 2011
Bonjour SPRING is coming!! The weather has begun to turn warm – 60’s during the day and 40’s overnight. Frost is, hopefully, behind us, because the vineyard is starting to wake up. New green buds are beginning to sprout at each of the spurs we cut off last winter. So it looks like I got my winter work done just in time! I have been spending the last weeks getting the vineyard ready for the new season – spraying with weed killer and anti-germination products to make sure the weeds do not take over and keep the vines...
read moreMarch 8, 2011
Hello…Again I know, I know. Its been like forever since I posted last. Have you forgotten about me..? Well, I’m back..and I promise to do better if you will stick with me. NEW WEBSITE: If you have found your way here, then you have seen the new updated, improved website. Pretty cool, hih?!?! We thought it was time (way past?) to update it to change the focus on what the winery now is – we are now a NEGOCIANT. That means that instead of growing the fruit for the wine, we contract with other growers to buy either juice or...
read moreWinter 2011
Hi All Winter is here. the weather has turned nice and clear and cold. The vines have dropped all their leaves, and winter pruning is now done. This heavy pruning removes all the year’s growth – back to 4 or 5 arms, which allows the vine to re-shoot next spring. In addition, by selecting the branches to be trimmed vs. removed, it helps to shape the vine into the desired “goblet” shape – a wine glass shape – or – imagine your hand inverted with the fingers extended upward as though you were setting a...
read moreJanuary 4th, 2011
Happy New Year !! Back from the Holidays. Had a great visit in Seattle with friends and family. Also did a small tasting at All Things Wine in Renton on the 23rd. Was great to see all of you who came out to join me – I know it was right in the middle of all your shopping and wrapping and cooking and other preparations for Chrsitmas. As I mentioned last time, I am getting ready to bottle the 2009 red Cuvee – “Ombre de Chateau” – and the 2010 rose. Corks and bottles arrive today and we will be doing the bottling...
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