In recent days, some small berries were visible but now need to look for more! Veraison has actually begun! See you in about 45 days for the first shots shears!

End of trellissing and cluster's closing

Fin du palissage et Fermeture de la Grappe

Trellising ended Saturday, July 11, after three long weeks in oppressive heat.

Maintenance work still continues with the trimming.

We are at the stage of closure of the cluster. The next step is veraison.

Pinot Meunier

Trellising and forecast

Trellissing is started for over a week in oppressive heat.

So we arranged work schedules to enjoy the "freshness" of the morning.

Flowering is now complete. Full flower was around the 15-17 June which suggests the harvest 90 days later so around September 15. To be confirmed according to the weather.

The flowering leaves room for berry set and seed formation.

Chardonnay

Pinot Meunier

Wildlife in the vineyard

Sometimes, we meet wildlife. They hide but we can see them. 

What is he hiding this vine?

A baby hare

Starving tenants

End of Disbudding, Tying-up and Weather

Disbudding ended Tuesday, June 2 under the sun and heat. Tying-up is still going on.

Sunrise this morning (the vineyards around the house are not tying up)

The coming days will be warm but the storms are predicted for the weekend. Just hope that we will miss them.

What a beautiful map of France, we would like to see more of this!

Disbudding and first thunderstorm

Disbudding continues. Wednesday, May 20, the first storm of the year broke. Heavy rains with hail according to sectors.

Storm seen from the vineyards in Courcelles-Sapicourt. Some small hail mixed with rain. But on Janvry sector, hail fell and made some minor damage. We can say we have been lucky.

The leaves have holes...

... And some clusters were affected.

Disbudding

The vine grow and enjoyed the last days of sunshine and warmth. Disbudding has started on Monday.

And the grapes are becoming more visible.

End of bonding and growth of the vine

The binding was finished Tuesday, April 14th with a beautiful blue sky.

The vineyard benefits from these beautiful spring weeks. The first leaves are now visible. Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are a little more advanced than the Pinot Meunier. But we have several days late compared to last year (to refresh the memory: http://bit.ly/1cQ1RCn) 

Pinot Meunier at "Chemin de Reims", last plot pruned

Pinot Noir in Janvry

Chardonnay "at Jardin's plot"

We can even see the futures grapes

Pruning and snow

Pruning started smoothly last week.

Small morning frosts, the last few days and some snowflakes today...

Last days of October

Work in the vineyards are over for 2014 and the end of the year is being organised with mailings and deliveries.  

The month of October ends with flamboyant colors.

  

Automn in Champagne's Region

After a lovely sunny September. Autumn has arrived suddenly at the end of last week. Temperatures plunged from 23°C to 14°C during the day and the sun giving way to clouds laden with water... 

So I took advantage of the few minutes of sunshine today to take pictures and share with you the beautiful landscapes that are the Champagne's vineyards in autumn.

Harvest 2014 - Day 7 - Last Day

The harvest ends with Macs ... An evening of the previous day and a rainy night forced the team to fully equip the latter day... Here are some pictures of the last day:

Pruners and gloves are placed in the baskets for the last time... until next year

Short tour of the village to celebrate the end of harvest!

Review of the 2014 Harvest 

Nearly 26,000 kg of grapes were cut by our team, at the top, in 7 days. That's unheard of! 

Thank you for your work, for your good mood and for the atmosphere, thank you... 

 Many Many thanks to all! And a special thought for our carrier.

See you next year with pleasure!!!