the delicat aroma of flowers

A new delicious smell in the middle of honeysuckle, old roses, red valerian, broom and other flowering companions, which color the small bouquets I bring back from my vineyard:

flowers from a walk through the vineyard

it’s delicate, pure, it has to be the event, we are waiting for at this time of the year: the wines start flowering.

flowering Chenin

I follow my nose – that should not yet be the Mourvedre, known as rather late, directly behind our house – but my nose directs me in the field. And now I see them: some wines of Chenin and another “stranger”, which I would’nt find in the small edition of the ampelographer’s bible written by Pierre Galet . it’s one of our rare plants of Carmenere, which we multiplied ourselves by grafting some wood we took at the ampelographic collection of Domaine Vassal at Marseillan about 15 years ago.

As it is a near parent of Cabernet Franc, I continue my ascension up the terraces of our Echelles de Lisson – Lisson’s ladders, to have a look, and I’m overwhelmed by the same smell. Further up, the Cabernet Sauvignon will follow his cousin soon – and Pinot end Merlot up on the hill are always early too.

wild flowers in the wines

I’m pleased that we had already the time to brushcut the wild herbs among the wines, were the soil is clean, you can see the wines dancing with pleasure, with their fresh green colors, without any disease for the moment.

Pinot Noir - Clos du Cure

During the flowering period, we don’t like to interfere in the wines, not to disturb this delicate moment, which is decisive for our 2009 harvest. And I have some pitiful thoughts for my colleagues in the Bordeaux and Beaujolais region, who already encountered thunder and hailstorm several times this year and have lost part of their future grapes.

Coming down again through the terraces, I have a closer look at the olive trees: yes, they too will flower soon, you can see the first timid blossom…

flowers olive trees

And in some days, the sweet chestnuts will join another aroma to our valley – omnipresent for some days

sweet chestnuts in blossom

- it’s a pity that I can’t include all these fragrances into this blog for you:-)…

Welcome to the english version of my winemaker’s diary from the South of France

Lisson is a small wine-producing estate in the Jaur Valley, close to Olargues, Languedoc, in the South of France. Two hectares of vineyards nestling in a forest of chestnut trees and ever-green oak.

This blog will try to keep you in contact with our daily work in the wines and in the cellar. You’ll learn about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees – and some of our wines – about Olargues, our next village, our beautiful region – our prides and deceptions – what we read and what we listen to… and anything else that will cross my mind, when I think about what could interest you wine-loving readers out there and help you, to know us better.