Cellar refurbishment
After many years of good and loyal service, it's now the turn of the bottling building to be refurbished.
In March 2003, the first phase of work started.
In September 2003, we installed the new bottling line in more efficient and pleasant premises, so that we can achieve higher performance.
January 2004 saw the start of phase two. We demolished the old building, and dug a basement to house a barrel cellar.
In May 2004, the old bottling area was split between a brand-new vat room and an extension to the tasting room. One level will be turned into offices, and this will free up the house where the "parents" live, which has been in a state of invasion for some 40 years!
After two and a half years' work, we felt the outcome was fairly satisfactory.
The vat room
The barrel room
Birth of a parcel of vines
We finally resolved to replant a parcel of vines, planted in 1902, after 96 years' excellent service.
These vines were pulled up in April 1999, and the soil was carefully prepared.
We dug a ditch to conduct a soil assessment and get a better idea of what we were working with: clay-poor brown to reddish-brown soil, with varying levels of sand and clay near the surface (20-25% clay), becoming clayey below 60cm (45% clay).
Finally the great day arrived: on 27 March 2000, Daniel decided to plant the new vines.
But how do you go about planting vines among all the stones? It's certainly not easy!
First, you make a hole with a planting stake.
Then you slip in the plant
And it's left to fend for itself among the stones.
But don't worry – Daniel's there to care for it…
And here it is, with its companions, a few months later. The spring rains have helped it develop (photo taken on 19 July 2000).
We'll make sure we keep you posted on how this little vine develops.
Between narrow or old rows of vines, horse-drawn ploughing is a precision job.
We use grass cover between the vines. This is an essential technique because it prevents erosion, controls vine vigour, increases levels of organic matter in the soil, develops surface life (such as ladybirds, bees and cicadas), soil life (e.g. micro-organisms, earthworms) and forces the roots to stretch deeper to exploit the soil's resources.
