Following an introduction to the winery and the region of Burgundy by Jean-François Chapelle, the winemaker and owner of the estate, we headed out into the Clos des Cornières, the vineyard plot where the adopted vines of the Gourmet Odyssey clients are to be found.
Jean-François gave us a short lesson in geology, showing us the
surrounding landscape that helps explain the different terroir
that is used for the vineyard plots of Santenay village, Premier
Cru or Burgundy regional wines.
We took a few moments to visit our adopted vines and encourage them to produce a good harvest this year!
Then time for more serious matters. At the moment we are
approaching the end of the pruning period, one of the most
important steps in ensuring the quality of the grapes. You need
to prune well to reduce the quantity of grapes produced by each
vine, thereby improving the concentration of sugar in the fruit.
Yannick, the Technical Director at Domaine Chapelle, showed us
how to prune using the Cordon de Royat method.
Under the watchful eye of Yannick and Jean-François, we then had a go at pruning some vines for ourselves. It seems easy enough, but once in front of a vine, secateurs in hand, we soon realise that there are many exceptions to the rule, and therefore many questions!
The vineyard on the other side of the road is planted with Chardonnay, and here another pruning method, Guyot Simple, is used. Yannick showed us the differences and how to remove the cut branches from the vines and training wires.
Between now and the harvest, there is still much work to be done.
Yannick explained the principal tasks remaining such as tilling
the soil and de-budding the vines.
Back at the winery, we made the most of the sun, enjoying a glass of Santenay white wine in the courtyard. We continued the wine tasting during lunch.
In the afternoon, we visited the fermentation hall for an introduction into the winemaking side of things. Those who'll return for the Harvest Experience Day will see this room in full swing during their next visit.
The day ended in the cellar with a visit of the labyrinth where the barrels of wine are aged and the bottles stocked.
Many thanks to Jean-François and Yannick for thier passionate explanations, and to all the participants for sharing such a great day with us.
Comments
No comments.
