Equipment needed: Mower, Strimmer, Spray kit.        

Vineyard Diary and Programme of Work for 2010

It's necessary to install new post and wire, install a double wire along middle wire line in all rows. Cut back some overhanging tree branches. Some use of fertiliser on the far side of the vineyard where the vines are struggling to develop and produce any crop. (probably April/May. More research to be done on this)

MARCH: Pruning vines

APRIL: Planting new vines

May, June, July August, September: Ongoing maintenance, including spraying against mildew.

OCTOBER: The grape harvest - about the second week in, depending on ripeness.

:

Completed

* February: Over 20 new posts were put in on 22nd February. Thanks to the workers who turned up and completed the work in a couple of hours. Other post are a bit rickety, but can wait until next year.

* March: All pre growth pruning has been completed.     Double wire along middle lines of rows completed for this year. Still 2 rows to do next year (near the bees, where growth of vines is not very good!)

* April: 120 new vines planted, 60 Gamay and 60 Cabinet Franc.  26th April: all the new vines are sprouting, as are most of the established vines. About 15 old vines are winter casualties.

*  May: There are now over 1000 vines in leaf. All the new vines are sprouting well.

*  June/July: The first and second spraying against mildew completed. The vines have a lot more fruit on them than last year. The 200 vines planted in 2007 are now coming into production.

                    As it is on 25th June - Lots of fruit is set on most mature vines

Vineyard Diary and Programme of Work for 2009

Work to be completed

Repair vandalism damage eg Renew posts and wire lines.

Pruning

Fitting extra wire/doubling up to middle wire line. This stabilises vine branches and simplifies tying up.

Tying vines to wires       (June)

Ongoing tasks:  Every Monday morning

Mowing grass between vine rows

Pulling up large weeds (bracken, broom)

Strimming grass/weeds along the vine lines

Strimming around the vineyard’s perimeter

Spray against diseases eg mildew every three weeks. More often if excessive rain. (May to August)

Irrigate vines when necessary

Prune excess growth from vines.  (June, July and August)

Clear and prepare the cave for wine production and storage (July, August)

Purchase and prepare wine producing equipment (Before October)

Harvest grape crop (Late September/Early October)

Produce wine (October onwards)

Renew damaged/weak posts and wire lines (During winter months)

Fit one double line of wire to each row. This will enhance ease of tying up and stabilising vines shoots.

Pruning (March April 2010)

Plant new vines  (April 2010)

Use fertiliser for rows nearest wood. (They need much more help than the vines on the road side of the vineyard) (April/May 2010)

Completed

February:  Some post renewed, but others need replacing. Some wire lines need renovating.  

March 30th: Pruning completed

April: New Posts and wire lines completed

May/June/ July: Ongoing tasks including, mowing between lines, strimming along rows and round the edges of the vineyard, Spraying against mildew, tying up vines and pruning excess growth. Also, hand weeding round vine roots when weeds get too big.

July/August: Spraying against mildew (completed on 8th July/August 3rd)

September: Vendange - (1st batch on 9th Sept; 2nd batch 21st Sept, 3rd batch 27th Sept )

As it looked - September 9th 2009

The observed fruit set is about 40% of the vines.(14/08/2009) This includes new vines which should not be allowed to fruit until they are 3/4 years old. All fruit from these vines must be removed to give the vine a chance to establish and gain strength. The grapes are ripening nicely. No disease observed.

The 400 vines planted in 2007 and 2008 won't be productive for about 4/5 years. Thus there are approximately another 150+ vines that will need replacing next year.

Robert Bates

NOTES 2009

* During the winter of 2008/2009 an individual/s drove a tractor around the vineyard destroying some critical posts and destroying about 20 vines.

Vineyard Diary and Programme of Work for 2008

Completed this year: 

Liming

Clearing branches and trees from the immediate perimeter of the vineyard

Pruning + training visits

Planting 200 new vines

Tying vines to wires

Ongoing tasks:  Every Monday morning

Mowing grass/weeds along the vine rows

Strimming grass/weeds along the vine lines

Strimming around the vineyard’s perimeter

Spray against diseases eg mildew every two weeks. More often if excessive rain.

Irrigate vines when necessary

Future:

Pruning excess growth from vines.  (June, July and August)

Clear and prepare the cave for wine production and storage (July, August)

Purchase and prepare wine producing equipment (Before October)

Harvest grapecrop (Early October)

Produce wine (October onwards)

Plant another 50 vines in April 2009

Visits:

Other Events:  BBQ and picnic at the vineyard on Saturday 28th June 6pm. Bring food, table and chairs

21st September 2008, almost ready for the 'vendange'

  The Vineyard on 2nd and 9th June 2008

The Vineyard of Clos Brégeot

The 2500 square metre vineyard of Clos Brégeot is situated near the small town of Dun-le-Palestel. It is now being renovated by members of Entente Cordiale. The aim is to produce wine from the original 600 remaining Gamay and Pinot Noir vine stock planted 25 years ago. A further 200 new vines have been planted this year, but won’t come into production for 4-5 years. 

Membership of this project is more about being part of a traditional French craft than just simply drinking the wine. It is an opportunity to become involved with a lively group of enthusiasts who are dedicated to reviving a vineyard.  One cannot underestimate the ecological importance of having a productive vineyard in this part of France. Although there is no need to actually do any work, all members are encouraged to take part. To actually see the produce of your labours is a reward in itself.    This is a ‘hands on’ opportunity not normally experienced

          Previous owners Robert et Solange Salesse                                       The original Clos Brégeot wine label

A 1980’s article about the planting of this vineyard said ‘A wine from the Creuse is so unusual that it needs to be protected and cherished’. This is just as true today.

During the middle ages there were vineyards on some sheltered slopes in the Limousin. But they were mainly abandoned during the 19^th century because the climate was too harsh and they had no treatment for vine diseases. Finally, the arrival of the railway was able to bring better quality wines from other regions.

In 1982, summer visitors from Paris Robert and Solange Salesse challenged a Creusois organisation to cultivate a wine in our region. M. Salesse owned a south facing piece of land, well situated and protected from the north. 1000 Gamay and Pinot Noir vines were planted.  Between 1982 and 1988 the vineyard yield increased from 120 to 1000 litres of wine. After 1988 the vineyard was progressively neglected, but during the 1990s it was renovated by Les Amis des Fleurs, a Creusois association, and lead by André Roussy the local wine merchant.

Around the year 2000 the vineyard was again abandoned and remained so until February 2007, when the new owner of the land, M. Laurent Dupeux, gave permission for the vineyard to be brought back to life by members of Entente Cordiale.  

      May

Details of Membership

Inevitably, producing wine has associated expenses such as the replacement of dead or poorly producing vines, ongoing treatment against diseases and pests and the purchase of essential equipment. 100 “parrains”, each paying a one off 30 € joining fee, plus a 10 € annual subscription will cover all the capital and annual costs. The scheme will run for five years of production and the first productive year is likely to be 2008.  .

Each member will receive:

       A certificate showing you are adopting three vines (but not particular vines).

A share of the global production of the vineyard. We hope eventually to have 600 productive vines which should produce one bottle per vine, but there are no guarantees as we are at the mercy of nature – weather, pests, viruses etc . 

Contact Details:                             

For more information about the vineyard please contact:   Robert Bates:  information@ententecordiale-creuse.org     

Throughout April, May and even as late as June the old vines sprouted leaves. The first time they’ve had room to breathe for 7 years.  There were casualties. In April we replanted 186 Gamay and Pinot Noir and next year plan another 200 in order to bring the total vines back to the original 1000.

It is evident that there will be no harvest to speak of this year, as the recovering plants rebuild their reserves and new vines take 4 years to enter production. The weather so far has not encouraged fruit production – not enough sunshine and too much damp favouring mildew attack.

The regular Monday working parties have continued to keep the weeds down and to clear the old broom roots.  A lot of extra work was done to show the vineyard at its best for the Grand Fete on 30 June (see separate article.)

Well done to all those involved.

The adopt-a-vine scheme has been launched and we are well on the way to getting our first 50 ‘parrains’, with an eventual target of 100 – ideally half French, half British. 

A lucky few also found time to make a trip to Beaujolais country and returned with lots of enthusiasm, wine and detailed notes.

      In June the vineyard looked very pretty!

On the evening of 30^th June we had our Grand Opening of the Clos Brégeot vineyard with local Mayors and other ‘bigwigs’ in attendance. The weather was hot and sunny, a window of opportunity in the middle of the deluge that challenged Noah’s water problem!  Set amidst the lush Creuse countryside, the vineyard looked very good and well cared for, a tremendous contrast to four months earlier!  The occasion was a wonderful excuse for knocking back a few glasses and tucking into mountains of mouth - watering picnics.

At the opening ceremony, the speakers recognised the project as a valuable and unusual piece of work that is supported by a group of dedicated people of various nationalities.  The Mayor of Dun-le-Palestel cut the ribbon and the vineyard of Clos Brégeot was declared officially open.

The Wine Tasting tent is very busy!