First Day of Work

Friday, 7AM work commenced. Despite getting no sleep the night before as I tossed and turned in my bed, I was amped to join the forces at Domaine de la Vougeraie. I knew that I would be working in the vineyard that day, and for the rest of next week, but I wasn't sure what this entailed.

I carpooled with Mariette, a student from Dijon, and we set out for the specified vineyard for that day near the Clos de Vougeot (of which I will describe more later)

The Clos de Vougeot

In this vineyard, named Prayer, or Prière, we met up with two younger adults (late 20's-ish), a guy and girl who appeared to be a couple? maybe? and two other older men. Taking our own rows, I was instructed to pull off secondary shoots, or entre-coeurs, and the random shoots arising from the ground. These were accurately and amusingly named, les Americains, as all grapevines around the world are grafted onto American rootstalks, and the lower portion of the trunk can send up suckers, or gourmands. So I hacked and pulled, pulled, and hacked. Topping a few meristems here and there to focus more energy in the shoots and fruit below I put my Viticulture courses to use. As we worked, I strained to catch as many words as I could decipher in the conversations that flew back and forth between the other works. Occasionally, I am called out by Christian, an older man working with me, as he stops me to ask questions about California and instruct me in French words and vine morphology. I am honored to be representing California for this man, and it makes me smile when he says he wants to move to California. I can't help but laugh as I look out into the gorgeous landscape of vineyards enclosed by stone walls, reaching up high into the hills, and wonder who in their right minds would desert a place like this? In the distance the Clos de Vougeot castle sits mid-slope and shining like a beacon of beauty.

Another vineyard near Beaune, but along the same route as Prière

I yell over to Mariette, "C'est incroyable que je peux travailler ici"

(It's incredible that I get to work here)

"Pourquoi?" she asks. Why? Because it is absolutely beautiful :)

For six straight hours we go up and down the rows at a leisurely, but steady pace. At the end of each row the men pull out their tobacco and roll their own cigarettes. After five minutes of resting we start up again. I grab water here and there, but my hunger pains subside at each resting point so I power on. Yet, there is no power involved as I feel as if I am running in neutral, coasting. I am not tired, hungry, or thirsty really, just eager to learn, which powers me forward.

Never in California would I get such an experience - such involvement in the vineyard is a rarity, a gem. "Does anyone machine harvest in Bourgogne?" haha, that's a joke right? NO!

I believe I will get to pick the fruit for Vougeraie. Maybe not, but in any case I will have my hands in on close to all of the winemaking process, from caring to the vine, picking the fruit, and caring for it through the process of fermentation and just slightly after. What a thought? I can't think of anything better.

Jokingly, my dad mentioned that I must have done something good in my previous life to have it so hard in this one. Maybe? :)

Standing in front of the Monopole vineyard that Vougeraie owns at the Clos de Vougeot

There are other stories that I would like to share with you, but unfortunately I will have to go out of order I little bit. My next post will be a compilation of those moments thus far.

Much love to you all.

Cheers!