Last of the de-budding in the Burgundy vineyard
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You need good grapes to make good wine. That's what the participants of the Wine Discovery Experience Day learnt last weekend at Domaine Chapelle. Jean-François, the winemaker and owner of the winery, and his Technical Director, Yannick, welcomed us for the day to share their passion for their profession.
During the Discovery Experience Days, we learn all about the key stages in working in the vineyard to get the best possible grapes come harvest time. And the best way to learn is by having a go yourself! So, after an introduction to the winery, its wines, and the Burgundy terroir, Jean-François led us out into the vineyard.
We took a few minutes to find our adopted vines before Yannick explained all of the work that has been carried out in the vineyard since pruning. We are now finishing the de-budding phase in the pinot noir vineyard plots, which involves removing any superfluous buds or shoots. And we have just started to train the chardonnay vines; which involves ensuring that the shoots grow between the training wires and then clipping the wires together to help the vines support the weight of the foliage and fruit.
Having learnt the theory from Jean-François and Yannick, we got
stuck in and had a go ourselves. A little hesitant at first
in front of the vines as we didn't want to cause them any damage,
but we soon got the hang of it.
A few hours later we were back at the winery, ready to taste some
wine! We tasted a Santenay white wine, before tasting a
Burgundy red, a Santenay Clos des Cornières and a Santenay
Premier Cru Les Gravières.
To finish the day, Yannick and Jean-François took us down into
the fermentation hall and cellar, where they introduced us to the
technical side of making and ageing wine, something that we will
develop further during the Vinification Experience Days.
To sum up the day in the words of Jean-François: the work in the
vineyard before the harvest is essential, because even a good
winemaker finds it difficult to make a good wine with poor
quality grapes.
A good winemaker is therefore a good farmer, and after their hard
work and enthusiasm in the vineyard, our apprentice winemakers
would wholeheartedly agree! Many thanks to our participants
for a very enjoyable weekend!
Comments
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We were enchanted by this day thanks not only to your organisation and kindness, but also by the welcome and exchanges with Mr Chapelle, Yannick, and not forgetting Mrs Chapelle.
We can't wait to come back for the harvest. -
Great experience with a very warm welcome in a magnificent winery.
Thanks to our hosts. To be wholeheartedly recommended.
Envoyé le Jeudi 05 June 2014 by Damien and Stephanie