In September 2011, we did a special harvest and micro vinification with part of the Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah. It was a natural, extended whole cluster carbonic maceration. The experimental fermentation Natural means nothing added.  We counted on wild yeasts and used no sulfites. Extended means that I let the maceration run for about six [...]

In September 2011, we did a special harvest and micro vinification with part of the Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah. Two of the WWOOFers (volunteers learning about farming) staying at O’Vineyards spent a couple days hand-harvesting grapes for a small project of mine. Harvesting O’Blivion We brought the harvest in and did a natural, whole-cluster extended [...]

I took some exterior photos of O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast now that it’s nearing completion.  Things are looking good! You can really see how close the rooms are to the vines.  How clear the sky is.  This is life on a vineyard after all! This is the window of the Cabardes room.  You can look [...]

We’re still building at O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast, but the windows are now installed.  It’s such a beautiful day. It’s funny how putting in a window can really focus your attention on just how much beauty you’re exposed to every day!   We’re surrounded by these gorgeous vines and mountain views so we can easily take [...]

While this blog can sometimes go on tangents based on my strange, exploratory moods, it is still a winemaker blog.  And it is late September which means HARVEST in the south of France.  So here it is, my first obligatory vineyard harvest of 2010. We’re starting with the Merlot, as usual.  It’s all by hand [...]

Our friends at Naked Wines wanted us to film a video to say hello and present O’Vineyards to their online community. My dad and I figured it would be fun to show them what we’re doing at this time of year. You have heard me talk about it like ten times now. We are lifting [...]

Wow, the last couple of weeks in the vines at O’Vineyards have been absolutely mind boggling! After some nice warm weather and the ideal  rains  the vines have kicked into overdrive with the Syrah leading the way. We found it necessary to temporarily leave the Merlot to attend to the Syrah where the growth has [...]

Well, we knew  the warmer weather had to come eventually and our beloved merlot is finally off to the races. I don’t  know how familiar you happen to be with “normal” Carcassonne weather but I was telling a local that the past couple years we seem to have only 2 seasons. Sping and fall have [...]

welcome to week 3 of winemaking 101. To begin this episode I would like to apologize for my often inept ability to convey my thougths clearly  in writing. It has been brought to my attention that the  literary  skills, I aquired at U-Mass Dartmouth sometime back in the 70′s, may be deteriorating a bit. I [...]