Let me tell you about the "interesting" experience enjoyed by our
advance party, Don and Mary-Lou from North Maleny, now merrily ensconced in Le
Petit Maine. They arrived on a Friday
several weeks ago to meet our exchange partners, Kerry and Brian.
Now, you will of course recall I did mention Jerome’s grape
harvest in my first postcard and the winter plonk (opps, fine local vintage) we
were so looking forward to.
Well, come early Saturday, Mary-Lou and Don were hauled out of
bed, into old clothes and joined the local work gang to harvest Jerome’s
grapes. Unfortunately, the weather was atrocious, cold and rainy. BUT Jerome
had once already (in that French rural way) postponed the great day. So, the
harvest must go on, today! Monsieur le Vigneron supervises the work gang
cutting and carrying and so the grapes come in, the crush is done and the wine
making process lovingly begun.
However, most distressing news has just come in!
Kerry, who is now in Don and ML’s home here in Maleny, tells
us that the vintage is kaput. Now I’m thinking that she is referring to the
2012 vintage, yes sir, the 2013 vintage is only five weeks old, for goodness
sake!
“Non monsieur! Non…c’est le vintage 2013!”
Apparently this usually OK local wine is ready to sample
just weeks into its life, but this time the word is “Yuk”. That extra week’s
delay was just a week too long. The grapes were past their best, wet and going
mouldy I’m told.
I’m distraught…no local plonk for the long year ahead and no
bar within 6 km!
"Take heart! Don’t worry," says Kerry, "the local supermarche
carries some fine wines and one does not have to pay anything over 3
euros." Vive la France!!!
PS: Don and ML, as hard working harvesters, were very happy
guests at the post harvest “fete” on the Saturday afternoon; lots of local
village people, fun, food and wine. But
the pics were rubbish, can’t publish them.
 | ||
| Last year's harvest...nice grapes,eh ..and this is Kerry our exchangee |
Cheers…next postcard when we too get to the beautiful
Charente. We depart this Sunday....getting nervy!
