What a bumper harvest it’s been, the best in 15 years! Something to be happy about !
Winegrowers in the region are thrilled to have the first early disease free harvest in five years, which indicates the beginning of a great vintage.
We are 5 weeks into post harvest and vintage 2022 is underway, the new still wines for great champagne to come are bubbling away, the old press is silent for another year, tanks and barrels are filled to the brim, and the traditional process of bygone times continues.
A blanket of silence descends on the wineries in the Champagne region as the tanks are especially full this year.
Post harvest and the fields are looking good!
With the last of summer days waining and autumn at our doorstep, Sunday was my last vineyard visit of the season.
I met with a professional group in town for a conference who were enthusiastic , they walked the vineyard curious and interest and thrilled with the cuvées I served, which brings me great joy.
They tasted in order of sweetness Les Cinq Filles Blanc de Blancs Zero dosage and to the other great extreme a rose “ Skagen”champagne Demi -sec both champagnes showed extremely well .
It’s about getting people in the vineyard, involved in the process , well at least part of the process in what it takes to produce great champagnes and also being in the vineyards you can feel the vibe of the vines. I enjoy presenting my accomplishments in person , so one once said to me ”I need to be seen to be believed !!” and on site it gives all those that have never tasted the champagnes I produce a better insight in how and why today I am show casing Champagnes around the world.
As I walked my visitors through the vineyard, I stop along the way to show them a grape leaf . I would like them to recognize the Chardonnay grape leaf , it’s just nice knowledge to know , next time I will show off a Pinot noir leaf this way the viewer becomes slightly more engaged . I also pointed out features on the vines themselves and discussed the age of the rootstocks, it’s great to talk about simple but important part of the vine stocks. My vines are old vines from 1960,s many need replanting though, we can talk about that in a future blog, for now I am just grateful to be able to produce. I love champagne.
Post harvest is a time to leave the vines to rest. The vines are the rockstars without top quality produce ( quality grapes) from rich historical terroir you cannot even begin the make great champagnes , I have heard “the winemaker is the musician and plays the tune for the house” I would funnily change that word out to magician haha because fermentation is magical, tried and tested.
So now the vines are calm and prepare for winter. While the fields are beautifully green, the cuttings from the rampage and collection of grapes during harvest show its toll on the vines, they slowly turn autumn brown , fall down and prepare for winter.
Underground, the vine roots are collecting food, storing carbohydrate as winter reserves for the dormant season scarce winter months ahead.
The leaves 🍃/🍁 turn upwards, soaking up the last of the sun’s powerful rays as the seasonal process of the vineyard mirrors the cycle of life.
No matter the season, the beautifully calculated lined rows of grapes stretch across the Champagne landscape welcoming all year round.
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Post harvest and our village Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is quiet, though a lot goes on behind the high walls and big gates, the vignerons are hardworking and happy. I love my village and happy to be part of the community.
In the heart of the village is the TownHall its open for visitors and a warm welcome from our Mayor greets you always with a glass of champagne a sparkling gesture is always nice.
While in Le Mesnil, visit the bakery ‘La Patisserie’, grab one of the delicious sandwiches and cakes and take a short walk to ‘Jardin Des Aromes ‘ the Aroma garden.
During the summer you can visit the butchers and choose delicate meats for a great barbecue, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger has great spots for picnics.
Regardless if it’s summertime or winter time , Jardin Des Aromes is a wonderful Aroma garden park, which was inaugurated by Clos Saint Vincent last year , it is truly a lovely park to visit and a champagne inspired aroma garden the aromas are centered around the three Champagne grape varieties and the three ages of the wines: youth, maturity and fullness, enjoy the visit it’s minimalistic but a pleasant place to take a short break in the village no matter the weather you can visit the Champagne Museum /the Clos Saint-Vincent /Grotto all whom are important institution, ambassadors and protecters of the region of Champagne.
What’s not to like…
Find Jardin Des Aromes – 8 rue Pasteur, 51190 Le Mesnil-sur-Oger France