20 May, 2002

Flowering has begun

 
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The first flowers of the Chardonnay and Meunier-vines in Loisy-en-Brie.

We have seen the first vine flowers of this year. Both the Chardonnay and the Meunier-vines had the small and rather unimpressive flowers this weekend. The yellowish flowers were found only at the feet of the plants. Always first, when it comes to the earliest developped buds as well as the flowers later in the cycle.

This means three things:

  • We expect to see all the blossoms during the next week and a half. After this point we will probably harvest the grapes about 94 days later.
  • Our manual work should stop during the period of flowering to give the best possible conditions for a good pollination.
  • We hope intensively to have good weather without rain and too much wind. This washes away the magic dust, that otherwise turns into grapes.

    Maybe we can even have what the French call a fat morning - matin gras - next weekend.