9/6/12

            Today we went again to the vineyard, but this time, south of Chavanay to the growing region Saint-Joseph. Just to put everything in perspective:

Basically the Northern Rhone, where I am located, is very well known for its Syrah, Viogner, Marsanne, and Roussanne. However those varieties are only grown in certain areas within the larger Northern Rhone. Cote-Rotie is primarily known for its Syrah, but planted alongside of it, sometimes in rows, sometimes in single plants, is Viogner. Cotie-Rotie is always a red, Syrah dominated wine, but it can be blended with up to 15% Viogner, as long as it is harvested at the same time, and co-fermented with the Syrah. Condrieu is exclusively white, Viogner. Saint Joseph is known for its red Syrah, and its two whites, Marsanne and Roussanne. If it is a red wine, it will be 100% Syrah. If it is white, it could be 100% Marsanne or Roussanne, as well as a blend of the two.  

So we arrived in the hills of Saint Joseph. Apparently, part of the parcel of vineyards that we went to on this day is notoriously known for its rot issues as well as powderey mildew. The powderey mildew is referred to as “oidium,” and the rot, which was more minimal, was botrytis. We basically went through certain sections of the vineyard, which were mostly Roussanne, opening up the canopy to the sun, but mainly eliminating the poor clusters, which in some rows was up to 95%! 

After lunch, we headed north again to Cote-Rotie. The first section of vineyard we came to had the steepest plantings I had ever experienced. It was all Syrah, but planted in a column or tower style, which I believe is referred to in French as “les echalats.”

It was amazing, and definitely a hike! We cleaned up those vines, and went to the upper section, which was planted in rows. After finishing there, we came to this old structure in the middle of the vineyard, which apparently was used originally as a sort of pump house. Basically it had a large basin built into the base of the house that was used to catch water, then gathered and used to prepare treatments for the vines, like spraying for disease.

We left the vineyard and headed for the vans. We were about to load up when Pipette halted everyone. We then sat on the street and waited for about 10 minutes. Adam told me that we did not have time to go to another vineyard, but it would look bad if we showed up to the farm house 10 minutes early, so we were waiting to give the illusion of working till the last second. I love the French.