The Rural Voice, 1982-12, Page 11r
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At Chateau des Charmes. the growing of European grapes is an integral part of the wine making process. This cluster of
Chardonnay grapes is unique in that there are three clusters on one stem.
catalogued with special attention paid to
the number of buds that survived the
winter.
After careful pruning and recording of
the fruit that had set, a few mutants were
discovered that had very positive features.
The first was a Gamay which grew eight
feet straight into the air before it required
support. Grapes are not known to attach
their tendrils onto themselves like this
one.
The other exciting feature was the loose
quality of the cluster of fruit. The normal
Gamay has a very tight cluster that stops
air from circulating and growers have
difficulties with fungus inside the clusters.
With this new variety, growers could
conceivably cultivate more plants per acre
per acre with a fungus problem eliminated
or controlled, higher yields would be
enjoyed.
John pointed out row upon rows of
new root stalks, all prepared to accept
new bud grafts very early next spring. The
Chateau is preparing for its future
expansion with further proliferation of
hardy European stock.
And there is more going on. Back in the
winery, Paul has been doing some
extensive work into a fermentation pro-
ces called carbonic maceration which
gives the wine a more fruity flavour.
Paul keeps a close eye on every facet of
the process and will not release a wine for
bottling until it meets with his high
standards. Little if any sugar is used and
no water is added to stretch the wine to it
pei iuissiblc maximum.
Slow pressing of the grapes ensures that
the seeds don't split and release a bittci
taste and aging wines for a short period in
imported French oak casks, arc just a
sample of the many secrets that Paul ha,.
in making his wines smooth.
Each year the Chateau has doubled it
gallonage and each year has sold out to
meet the ever growing demand for its
wines.
Their first year saw a mere 6,500 cases
of wine marketed comparable to this
year's possible 27,000 and a projectzd
figure of 40,000) for next year.
Paul patiently explained what a vintage
year is and .01at a year on the label
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1982 PG. 11