Passion and hard work

Rebellious? Really? The truth behind a Beaujolais winemaker's personality is a considerate soul and a keen heart, especially when he is communing with his vines. The planting density is one of the highest in the world with from 7 000 to 13 000 vine per hectare. This may be reduced to 6 000 if it is thought that quality will be improved - a concern that is ever the deciding factor in a vine-grower's choices. Tending is regular through all four seasons. From spur or cane pruning depending on the appellation in winter, to the tilling and hoeing round each vine to remove any weeds that announce spring, the vinegrower trains his plants to give of their best.

This labour comes to its climax at harvest time. Close on 40 000 grape pickers come the area to lend a hand to the vinegrowers to gather in the bunches of grapes, because rare is the use of the harvesting machine in the Beaujolais region. They all have bent backs and tired hands but, for them, nothing can compare to sharing a good meal, learning about wine and the friendships made during their short time spent here. Sorted manually in the vines and or when they arrive that the cellar, only the very best bunches are put into the vat to start fermentation. And, though the harvest bans are no longer give rise to the tithes and taxes of 13th century, they are still the launch for every vintage today.