Wednesday, July 29, 2020

A trip to look at a Vineyard.

Maximum temperature here today 31⁰C, minimum 14⁰C. Dry.  13km/h North-Easterly winds with gusts up to 25 km/h.

A day trip in the Charente, while hopefully avoiding the virus! This is a copy of my blog on My Life in the Charente for those followers of only the photodiary.


Before the motorways came, much long distance travel through France involved the use of long, straight, two way roads, often lined with plane trees for considerable stretches. Low morning or afternoon sun flickering between the trees caused vision problems for drivers  and accidents were, I believe, far from rare!


Fields of sunflowers everywhere. In this time of the season, their "sunny" seed heads are beginning to die off and dry out.

The most unprepossessing main entrance to Balluet, a family run cognac producer since 1845!! The quality is within!

This alambic is a kind of pot still, hand made in copper sheet, of a design peculiar to the Charente department. In simple terms, white wine (usually made using the ugni white grape) is boiled in the left hand pot and the alcohol vapour rises in the top tube and  distils in the centre section, which has a downward spiral pipe inside. The distillate cools in the spiral and runs out to collect in the end tank. The first and last thirds of the produce in this tank are discarded; only the middle third is kept, transferred to oak barrels for aging.


Old and disused boilers. Despite the basic and industrial design, the builders had taken the trouble to apply moulded mortar gods' heads with beards of grape bunches.


Barrels of different sizes are used for aging. These barrels are 3000 litres, but Balluet use barrels varying in sizes from 600 litres to 25,000 litres! Often old red wine barrels are used, to add different attributes to the finished cognac.

These barrels hold, i think, about 12,000 litres each. Plenty of storage here, but aging can last from 5 years to 40 years and more for the older cognacs, so plenty is essential! We were told at another firm that cognac stops maturing after 80 years, at which point it can be decanted into glass jars!

This is a view of the chateau in the village (Neuvicq_le_Chateau, which is actually in the neighbouring department, Charente Maritime) taken from the top of the  20 metre high tower on the adjoining Balluet premises. There is quite a climb to the top, up several flights of a very narrow staircase and not for the faint hearted!

This neat little 360 degree panoramic map of the landscape visible from the tower. The altitude of 95 metres refers to the height of the village above sea level. It's an accurate painting, as can be seen by comparing the features on the photograph below!

Another view from the tower, showing the cognac sheds surrounded by vineyards of the ugni blanc grape, ripening and ready for harvest in the autumn.

Twenty year old cognac. It is only brandy made near the town of Cognac which can be named "cognac". We were fortunate to meet and have a quick chat with the current Monsieur Balluet. A very pleasant, but down to earth, gentleman with a serious and long term responsibility on his shoulders!



My local list of wildflowers. (89 Species 20/07/2020).

See also my


25 comments:

  1. I've never had cognac. I may have to try it. It is interesting how they made the vino decorations on the utilitarian tanks.

    What impresses me the most with the landscape is how similar it is to where I live. I had read about plane trees in novels and decided to look them up. So I have had some good reading and learning from your post. North America's plane trees are called sycamores. It is a lovely tree. I can see why Napoleon had them planted along roadways.

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    1. Ann you do not know what you are missing, there are some great cognacs on the market. Glad that you enjoyed this post. Take care and stay safe, Fiane

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  2. Don’t know if I’d have climbed that tower. Great view though. Such an interesting post. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Only I went up, the worst part was the two middle flights of steps were in almost total darkness. The lights were only near the top and the bottom! It was worth it though, Keep safe Diane

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  3. It was interesting to learn a bit about cognac. I was also surprised to learn that the plane trees were/are the cause of many accidents. I would have thought they helped the driver avoid too much sunlight in his/her eyes and so help avoid accidents. The field of sunflowers looks lovely. My sunflowers did not too well at all this year. I used a new to me seed and I found them rather scrawny and straggly but it could have been the soil/weather/rainfall. Have a wonderful weekend ahead Diane and stay safe. xx

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    1. Glad you enjoyed this Penny. The tree problem is when the sun is low and it is continually flashing between the tree trunks, it is very distracting. Keep safe, have a good week Diane

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  4. Looks like a very pleasant visit, Diane. It reminds me that we haven't done a tour of any of the Niagara vineyards for a few years and it would be very agreeable to do it again. The alumni association of one of the local universities used to run a bus trip, with lunch and dinner included and it was a great way to go. On the way back they always had several quizzes, with the prize being a bottle of wine from the several donated by the various wineries, and one of the quizzes was about the birds of the area, and - surprise - I won! It was no contest! And the wine was damn good too.

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    1. This is the second time we have been there but we did not get a tour of what goes on in the back last time so this was great. As soon as you can travel in a bus again time to take a trip.
      Best wishes to you both, stay safe Diane

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  5. Love this tour and would enjoy a small taste of the fine cognac. The countryside is delightful.

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    1. We should have brought you a bottle :-) It is a lovely country and lots of forests away from the wine estates.
      Take care and have a good week Diane

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  6. Hello,
    What a lovely tour, the countryside and view from the tower. The sunflowers are beautiful. I have never tried Cognac, but I love wine. Thanks for sharing your visit to the winery! Take care and stay safe! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend.

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    1. Eileen time you gave it a try but make sure it is a good one. Have a great week Diane

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  7. Hi Diane - that sounds a wonderful day out ... and what an amazing priceless vineyard to keep up and running ... must have been a fascinating visit ... very selective ... take care - Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary wish you could have joined us it was a fun visit and great tasting, especially for me as I was not driving!! Keep safe and have a good week. Diane

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  8. A beautiful and very interesting post, Diane. I trust that those two bottles were taken home with you?! I used to enjoy visiting various distilleries, etc. in France, but have lasting memories of once stopping our special train at a place that made a liqueur out of Gentian root - I've never tasted anything so foul! There was a shop at the end of the visit, and only one of our cutomers bought a bottle - I don't think it was for a friend!

    Best wishes - stay safe - - - Richard

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    1. Two bottles ha ha, they were just taken out of the box full brought home for a photo 🥂 Never heard of anything made from Gentian root maybe it has since closed down 😉 I will remember if I do ever see it to keep my distance!

      Keep well and have a good week Diane

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  9. WOW.....80 years to age. Most folks would never see it from start to finish if the 80 yrs is the route taken. Crazy. Sort of like watching Christmas tree grow and how long it takes to become a massive Christmas tree. I know it takes 60 yrs I think for a cedar tree to mature enough to cut it down and haul it for building. In Fla. they once a field of trees is cleared it is planted again. Then the next time they move to another grove of trees and so on just to keep it going. But congnac to mature or whatever it does to full life of 80 yrs would be WILD. Just think, if you started some at 18, then prob it would be a grandchild that would finish it off.....

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    1. Pam almost all these vineyards are owned by families that have been there for hundreds of years, and yes, what one member of the family will have started, a younger member of the family will finish off. It is just continuous through the family. As we mentioned above, the Balluet family have been running this place since 1845.
      In France also the forests are replanted as they are cut, and we are led to understand, that the forest areas hare are growing rather than diminishing.
      Keep well and take care Diane

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  10. I love the old traditional way of doing things in European countries. Australia is so young by comparison. Beautiful views out over the vineyards. The sunflower fields are spectacular when fresh. Diane the reason you don't see people wearing masks in my photos is because our fantastic Premier acted very quickly at the beginning of the virus, closing our borders to the rest of Australia and the world. In Victoria and NSW they are having a dreadful problem because they opened up too soon. One of the benefits of living in the world's most isolated city. West Australians have been very responsible and are enjoying the end results. Good leadership makes all the difference.. if it changes and we have to wear masks we definitely will wear them 💜

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    1. Hi Grace, things do not change much in France especially where alcohol is concerned, the old tried and trusted ways remain.
      Interesting that Perth is doing so well compared with Melbourne, our nephew works in Melbourne so its quiet worrying. France has been doing well, but now holiday season is here it is causing problems and who knows what might happen next!! I would have thought that the majority of people would have stayed home this year as we have done, travel to me sounds like asking for trouble. We should have been in Italy!! Keep well, Diane

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  11. Beautiful motorway and sunflower field. Interesting to see inside the winery. Have a great new week and stay safe.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, it was an interesting day out. You also stay safe, Diane

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  12. Wonderful photos, a delight to see. That field of sunflowers look amazing!
    Greetings, Janitha!

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    1. Hi Janitha and thanks for the visit. I do love Sunflowers always so cheerful and happy. Have a great week Diane

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