Well the roller coaster ride that is 2008 continues here in the Southern Rhône. Earlier this week we received juice analyses on our Roussanne that convinced us that we should harvest them today, before there was more rain predicted, more rain and violent thunderstorms. But, after consulting with our good friend Even Bakke (who I will properly introduce to you in the coming days) we decided that the Roussanne wasn't quite ready yet and that we would take a chance and hope that we didn't get all of the rain that they were predicting and that the mistral winds would indeed kick up to dry out whatever rain we did get. Early this evening the rain started falling, heavy at times, but mostly just steady. Now as I'm getting ready to go to bed, the moon is out and I can see the stars. This, of course, doesn't mean the storms are over, they had predicted a slow-moving storm, so we're not out of the woods yet!
We're willing to take this chance though because we have so little white, that if we can fill a barrel I think we'll be lucky! So, it's our first year making white, we don't have a lot to lose, especially quantity wise, why not learn something about the ripeness of Roussanne and Clairette instead of panicking and harvesting it before it's ready. It's always a gamble, another vigneron friend of mind said that he always regretted waiting at the beginning of harvest, especially when it's sunny and beautiful in the early days, and two weeks later you're harvesting in the rain... It's easy for consumers and critics to sit back in a chair and criticize a wine, or the decisions a winemaker made in a certain year. It's also easy for us as farmers to criticize our neighbors for harvest too early (in our experienced and professional opinions -hahaha!) But you always have to remember that everyone makes decisions based on what they think is best or based upon what risks they are willing/able to take. It's not as easy as you may think, especially when an entire year's work is at stake.
I'll let you know how much rain we did or didn't get tomorrow morning, and whether or not the gamble paid off. Of course, we may not know that for several more days, or even months, until we see what kind of white we're able to make...or not!
Hi, Amy, I hope you haven't had the torrential rain that we had in Cairanne. Driving this morning to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there was mud all over the road, and earth movers wezre in action !
Posted by: Nick Sweet | September 12, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Hi Amy,
I hope you didn't have the torrential rain we had in Cairanne last night. Driving to Châteauneuf-du-Pape this morning, there was mud all over the road and earthmovers were in action.
However, the good news is that there is some mistral blowing.
Posted by: Nick Sweet | September 12, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Amy - I've read your blog from time to time. I've a small vineyard in Northern Tuscany and have tried the move to BD this year - what a year to start. I'm a few weeks yet from Vendemmia but know exactly the trade offs you mention - not easy. Good luck
Posted by: Paul Murray | September 12, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Good luck we're thinking of you and hoping it all works out! Hang in there...
Posted by: ryan | September 12, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Amy, what were the numbers when you held back? & how are you allocating that little bit you're looking to make?
Do you think there is a way to take the 'community supported agriculture' model that organic producers are developing stateside into the viticulture realm?
I spent near seven months in Mendoza working on developing relationships with organic producers I could try to support in my small way to build a private label. I'm committed to buying some wine already made, but I haven't been able to get my hands on the grapes I thought I might have an option on...
I don't have the deepest pockets, but I also have few obligations & can live frugally in the pursuit of a vision for supporting peaceful social change.
Hope we might link up at the right time.
Are you checking high-pressure fronts to power that Mistral your way?
It could-might-should happen, but you will have to move at half-day's notice! All the best, Namaste!
--DJR
Posted by: David J | September 13, 2008 at 05:30 AM
keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed for you
hope it all works out
Posted by: robert | September 13, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for the good wishes everyone! We made it through with less rain than Chateauneuf and especially Lirac and Tavel! The Mistral has been blowing since and we brought in the whites yesterday. The reds we are still waiting on though, just not ripe enough!
Posted by: lagramiere | September 15, 2008 at 07:16 PM
we have done 1/3 of the harvest, it's difficult, but it could be good here in Southern Tuscany. We still have to harvest most of the Sangiovese and we would if it doesn't rain for a few days. Let's see.
Bonne chance and "in bocca al lupo" as we say around here.
Posted by: gianpaolo | September 16, 2008 at 11:22 PM