Well the pruning hasn't gotten off to a stellar start here in southern France. The first weekend of January we were supposed to be out pruning according to the bio-dynamic calendar, but I had a nasty cold, and Matt wasn't feeling very well either. The fact that we had two very late wine-filled evenings on the 31st and the 1st didn't help either! Then Monday the 4th it rained all day, Tuesday the vineyards were too muddy, or so I told myself!
So finally on Wednesday the 6th my parents and I finally got out there to start the 2010 pruning. We started in the Clairette vineyard and then moved on to the Roussanne on Thursday after we finished there. It was cold and cloudy and they were predicting snow!
Friday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland, the likes I have yet to see in southern France! Being from Colorado I was thrilled! It was cold and windy and it snowed all day. We ventured out twice with the dogs, they of course loved it! We also walked up to the usually booming Friday market only to find 3 courageous people who had braved the elements to set up their stalls. By Saturday morning the snow had stopped but the temps had dropped overnight to -5 degrees C, so the snow wasn't melting. Typically it snows once a year down here, but the next day everything is gone. Not the case this year. Even the Saturday market in Uzès was deserted! Now that is ultra rare. It was great though because everyone was out, smiling at the snow, making snowmen, sledding and having snowball fights.
Sunday, after having spent 2 days cooped up inside we decided to head out and prune for awhile even if it was still freezing and there was still over 6 inches of snow on the ground. Thanks to the hunters we made it back up the dirt road to the Roussanne and had the most magical afternoon pruning in the snow.
Here's a slide show of all the fun we had! Enjoy!
Now we are wating for your whites wines!!!!
Bye
massimo
Posted by: massimo sacco | January 24, 2010 at 08:17 PM
Hello, I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy reading your emails. I feel as if we are friends.
We'll be in France this Spring and Summer. Would it be possible to visit?
You might enjoy seeing the website of one of our favorite Italian winemakers, Josko Gravner in Oslavia. He's a real pioneer.
All best wishes,
Jerry Horner
Bloomington, Indiana
Posted by: Jerry Horner | February 04, 2010 at 03:42 PM