Wine making

We are wine making in France. Pumpjack is a trained Oenologist, or Oenologue if you are in France. He makes wine. The perfect man. We’ve moved to France as he wants to make wine here. Follow our journey from trying to buy a vineyard to renting instead. From growing grapes to making wine.

It’s another tough year in the vineyards here in France. Spring is the time when, like all plants, they start to bud. Called bud burst in vineyard speak. But these sensitive buds are also very prone to frost. And some years are definitely worse than others. In the past, IRead More →

The vendage is what France calls the grape harvest that makes wines. Join in at Pumpjack & Piddlewick

Last year I said, ‘never again’. And there is a saying ‘never say never again’. How very true. Fast forward to now and I find myself once again undertaking The Vendange. The vendange is a French term for the grape harvest here in France. Very specifically, the time in lateRead More →

The vendange or grape harvest is on at PumpjackPiddlewick

This past week in our area was the grape harvest. Early morning traffic was all about tractors and full cars heading out to vineyards. The rain was coming and those sun filled grapes needed picking before it arrived. In the past Pumpjack, as the wine maker, has always been involvedRead More →

summer in the vineyard at Pumpjack Piddlewick

The vines are all tucked in and ready to bask like a tanning guru on a beach towel in the summer sun. Job done. (Hoooo-Ray!!) The next couple months the currently tiny grapes will grow and grow (hopefully) and by September reach their fruition here. The hot sun of theRead More →