We spent two excellent days last weekend at Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard for the Harvest Experience days. The grapes took their time to ripen this year, but with the rain at the start of October, everyone is now in the vines to gather the harvest in as quickly as possible. Luckily we had some very motivated clients to help get stuck in!
After the introductions to the winery, we headed off to the vineyard to join Micheline, the head of the team of harvesters. Equipped with a bucket and pair of secateurs each, we spread out among the rows to start picking the grapes.
As soon as we filled the buckets, we called for one of our apprentice porters to come so we could empty the grapes into the baskets they were carrying on their backs. Our brave porters then had to empty the baskets over their heads into the awaiting trailer, something that isn't as easy as it looks!
We then followed the grapes journey to the fermentation hall to look at the wine presses that receive the harvest. Here, we listened to the explanations of how the presses work and learnt about the first stages of fermentation that will transform the grape juice into wine.
After all of the morning's works, the tasting of the wines produced by the winery was most welcome! We started with a tasting of some of the biodynamic wines: the Petit Chablis "Les Plantes" and the Chablis "La Boissonneuse", followed by the Chablis Premier Cru "Les Vaudevey" and "Vaulorent", before finishing with the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses".
Once we had enjoyed the harvesters' meal, we went to see our adopted vines in the Boissonneuse vineyard. As usual, out came the cameras to take a few souvenir pictures!
Many thanks to all of our enthusiastic harvesters, and to Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard for having welcomed us.
Comments
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Wonderful day learning about the winemaking profession
Great welcome - to be recommended
Can't wait for the vinification experience day
Envoyé le Lundi 14 October 2013 by Patrick