A busy week ahead. first checking the wires throughout the vineyard to make sure the harvesting machine will not get a loose wire entanglement.  Tomorrow we will analyse several different patches of vines for ripeness. we analyse by tasting the actual grapes and then make some juice by pressing the grapes through a mouli and take the resulting juice to the laboratory for a very accurate analysis of the amount of sugar and acidity level.
Give the press a good scrub out again.
then early in the morning, whilst the grapes are cool the harvester (which we share with 10 other vineyards as it is a state of the art machine worth 100s of 1000s) the harvesting machine will arrive and harvest about 2 or 3 hectares of one variety which is perfectly ready.
then repeat that several times over the next few weeks til they are all harvested.
​Cabernet Sauvignon is normally last.

With temperatures hitting 40 degrees the chilled element of the tastings is the most popular. or well chilled Brut, dry with and rosé are perfect for this weather

we have had to reduce the number and size of our tastings to ensure plenty of distance. Hand gel is in supply and no shaking hands.  otherwise life seems pretty normal on the vineyard.

who knows whether the UK Government will plunge French holidays into crisis as they have spanish ones. 

​Meanwhile the visitors we have had have just been happy to have a relaxed visit and escape from the stresses of spring under lock down

Lockdown meant we did spend all our time in the vines and the vineyard is looking terrific. No wine tours yet so no-one can see how lovely it is.
we managed to do a bottling of 14,000 bottles so our 2018 red is maturing for six months before going on sale and our 2019 Blanc Sec is now available.
May is wet and rainy mostly. the orchids are glorious and the hoopoes and nightingales are here and singing away.
​it is very bizarre with no visitors although people can and do drop by by appointment to stock up.

Taking a walk in the spring sunshine through our valley where the wild flowers, including snakes head fritillaries, make this a most romantic place

Now just a day trip away!  many of our UK friends and regular customers have wanted to buy our wine at chateau gate prices without driving all the way to the Dordogne.  Here it is.  Further details on this website  under 'More'.

Martin Walker has written the wonderful Bruno series and, through the eyes of the Chief of Police explores the region of Périgord. He has explored the wines of the region in depth and was interviewed by the wine critic of the New York Times Eric Asimov.
We are thrilled to read the result in the Times today

“It’s a deep pleasure knowing the guy who made the wine, to hear them talk about it,” Mr. Walker said. “The look of pride as they pour the wine, I adore that.”
Among his favorites are Château Lestevenie, which makes an excellent Côte de Bergerac Rouge and a rich, waxy Bergerac blanc; Château de Tiregand — a favorite of Bruno’s — which makes superb, long-lived Pécharmants, a small appellation within the larger Bergerac region; Château de Jaubertie, whose white Cuvée Mirabelle is another favorite of Bruno’s; and Château Feely, which makes delicious wines from biodynamically grown grapes in Saussignac."

very proud to have won in this most competitive category. And the band at the celebration "In Vino Veritas" was great too.