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La vigne

“We cultivate our vines traditionally, being careful that the balance between the vine, climate and soil is respected. All the vintner does is reveal what is already there. A good wine is produced above all in the vineyard. ”

Philippe Jegerlhener, domaine de Ménard

Winter

During winter the vines are dormant. Pruning begins as soon as the last leaves have fallen, and continues until the end of March. This is an important stage during which the vintner eliminates some vine shoots and selects the buds which will grow and yield fruit the following year.

“Pruning is a fundamental stage, it can be considered as the first quality stage. It’s at the moment that the vintner regulates the yield and helps his vines evolve. ”

Henry Prataviera, domaine de Ménard

Spring

During Sping, a small crack appears between the hard outermost bud scales as the bud begins to swell. The vintner ties up the vine shoots. The buds burst and begin to develop.
The vine awakes from its winter sleep and enters into the growth period.

In June, lifting and thinning begin in order to regulate vegetative area and increase maturity.

Summer

In July, shoots continue to expand and vine flowers become berries. This is called berry set. (French word 'nouaison')

August is the month of veraison : berries grow, soften and change colour as they begin to ripen. During maturity, acidity levels decrease and sugar content increases.

The quality of a wine depends partly on the date of the harvest. We try to determine optimal maturity by tasting the grapes at each parcel and using chemical analysis; we consider optimal maturity as the convergence between aromatic maturity, phenolic maturity (colour, tannin) and technological maturity (sugar, acidity).

Autumn

It’s harvest time! In September and October we harvest at night in order to conserve aromas and the freshness of the grapes.

At the end of Autumn, the leaves fall and blow away…

This vegetal cycle has been renewed every year for the last 1600 years in Gascony, and will continue to do so for as long as 'men and women' enjoy wine.