Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday 8 February 2017

Pruning a Muscadet 'Grand Cru': Terre de Gneiss


Christelle Guilbert (Decanter magazine) and Vincent Caillé, 
her partner in the Terre de Gneiss project, 
deep in a pruning discussion


This morning we dropped in on the first day of pruning at the famous Terre de Gneiss in the small Nantais village of Monnières. Pruning vines is far from the sexiest job in the vineyard, although it is certainly the longest and one of the most crucial. The annual pruning will determine not only how your vines will grow in this year but also next year and perhaps further on. Pruning old vines is especially delicate, so no wonder there were intense but friendly discussions over what to cut and what to leave on the more problematic vines. 

Christelle – time to make the cut

Vincent trying the dessicated 2016 grapillions
(3rd generation grapes which are left on the vine 
at harvest because they are not ripe)

Ben Llewelyn given carte blanche to prune


The loneliness of the long distance pruner
More intense discussions 


Tension mounts .......as time to make the crucial cut nears.... 

Ben with Mick O'Connell






 Pruner using electric secateurs – expensive but 
saves the joints from rheumatism but they have to be handled carefully!


The de rigueur Vendée Globe pruning jacket.....

La Pause.... time to drink a cru Muscadet

1 comment:

Unknown said...

That bloke in the red and black jacket is holding the secateurs all wrong. I wouldn't let him near my grapes!