The choice of type of vines for wines of
quality...
Wine tradition The Vineyards
One of the most interesting aspects of the wine growing profession is the care given to each vine plant to grow it, protect it and give it the necessary attention in order to obtain optimal quality grapes.
These steps require continuous attention to the family vineyards made up of more than 7 hectares spread out all over the Vallée de la Marne territory, next to Epernay (Venteuil, Damery, Reuil and Jonquery).
The yearly vine works consist of the following:
After resting in winter, each “vine plant” is pruned in February to ensure the coming harvest.
Then, in April, each stick is tied up to a tight strand so as to guide the future vegetation. Indeed, the vine is a creeper which grows rapidly and without any particular direction. Hence, its imperious nature has to be directed!
From May, the vines are disbudded (we also call this process ‘green pruning’) to get rid of the new useless sticks so as to lighten the coming vegetation. This process is essential to the successful ripening of the future grapes.
June is the time when the vine is blossoming. Approximately 100 days later, the grape harvesting begins.
In early September, the vines are trimmed to improve the lightening of the vegetation. At such stage, grapes have gained their optimal size. Therefore, the grape harvesting, which is still hand-made in the Champagne area, can begin. Over a period of 8 to 10 days, a whole year of care is hanging in the balance.
The two main purposes of the vine works are: respect for the environment and search for rigorous quality.