Grapillons

Grapillons from Carignan before late harvest

Dear wine lovers,

I thought we were done with harvesting and pressing...until I recently realized that the sanitary state of the "grapillons" in our vines was just very interesting.

In France, there is an old tradition of picking those grapes left at harvest time, since those "grapillons" were not ready then. Grapillons are small grapes that came out of vines 2-3 weeks after the first "real" ones and that's the reason why they are not mature during regular harvest time.

In the ancient times, those grapillons were usually picked by poor people who would make their wine. For us, those grapillons harvested are now over matured and will provide sweet wine, considering the high level of sugar that they content. Yesterday, some very good friends came over to renew this tradition and share good times with us. Like for the first of our regular harvest, Mistral was blowing strong and it was great to remind our exceptional harvest conditions.

Back to our cellar, we had to crush those grapes with our feet like it was done by our ancestors and I could count with the great help of my wife's best friend, Susan , for this fun task. During the picking, we might also have disturbed a few ladybugs that came with us to inspect the cellar.

Cheers,

Jean-Marc Espinasse - Domaine Rouge-Bleu

PS : The label poll is about to give its outcome. We will surely consider carefully the results and will include some ideas to affine our label.

Comments

[claude]

"Glaner" is the french translation of picking which only applies to what was left, grains of course, in the wheat or barley fields once the harvest has been done.
I used to do it, glaner I meann with my grand mother in Britanny when I was then a little kid

[Mary Ann]

I am so happy to have found you and your wife's page. It is very interesting. You both are articulate and know how to tell a story.

Please keep the stories coming.

Mary Ann
Fulton, New York

[Janine Cortell]

Dear Jean-Marc:
We are anxiously awaiting the result of the label contest. Wish we could be there to taste your wine. We have enjoyed following this wonderful adventure. Amities, Janine Cortell

[Phil Hicks]

Here, we call the grapillons "second crop." Yes, people do ask us to glean the vines and particularly pick the second crop for homemade wines. I'm planning to grab some for a grape based sourdough (bread) starter.

[Kathy]

I think someone was "pulling your leg." The last label choice looks pretty much like the label for Oberon beer!

[Rhonda]

Merci à vous, monsieur, et votre femme. You both bring France to life with your informative and interesting websites.

I once watched a wonderful film by Agnès Varda called Les Glaneurs et la glaneuse. The filmmaker tells the stories of those in the country who follow the harvests and "glean" the fields after the main harvesting has been completed and of those who "glean" the city streets for their survival. It is a very remarkable film.

While I am writing and if I may, I would like to vote for labels 3 or 4.

Again, thank you.