GenevaLunch - Féchy, Vaud, Switzerland

Feature: chez Paccot, pruning for the next great wine

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:22:37 +0100

Geneva Lunch - Editor's note: This is the fourth in a year-long series on the life of a Vaudois winemaker, or vigneron, in the Lake Geneva region. GL follows Raymond Paccot and the Domaine La Colombe in Féchy from the 2006 harvest to the next one in 2007.

In the vineyards: "where it's happening"

Christophe Bernot examines the as-yet unpruned collection of Swiss vines planted for show by the Paccot team along the edge of the Féchy road.

Paccot pruning 11

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:46:32 +0100

"Vines are your capital if you're a grower." - Christophe Bernot, La Colombe's vineyard manager.

Paccot pruning 10

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:43:48 +0100

Older vines take on knobly appearance

Paccot pruning 9

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:39:28 +0100

Clay-like soil of the hills above Lake Geneva's eastern edge produces excellent wines, says winemaker Raymond Paccot, when its needs are respected.

Paccot pruning 8

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:34:37 +0100

La Colombe's new pruning method leaves two canes, giving the vines an elegant shape.

Paccot pruning 7

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:38:30 +0100

La Colombe's pruning method leaves 4-5 of the short stubs known as spurs on the vine.

Paccot pruning 6

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:33:08 +0100

Last year's canes are left between the rows so the wood-mulching machine can come through to chop them more finely. They are then left for nature to restore to the soil.

Paccot pruning 5

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:10:52 +0100

Cuts are clean and close, but not too close to the vine to keep the plant from drying out. One branch is left when the single guyot pruning method is used.

Paccot pruning 4

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:08:00 +0100

Even on a sunny day, pruning is cold, backbreaking work, with the vines cut back to the lower wires.

Paccot pruning 3

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:04:27 +0100

Pruning La Colombe's own 10ha plus another 5 that the vineyard manages takes several weeks, even for old hands such as Christophe, working with a small team.

Paccot pruning 3

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:04:27 +0100

Pruning La Colombe's own 10ha plus another 5 that the vineyard manages takes several weeks, even for old hands such as Christophe, working with a small team.

Paccot pruning 2

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 08:54:10 +0100

Christophe Bernot, responsible for La Colombe's vines, shows trainee Andrea Schubauer how to prune correctly to ensure good growth and a healthy plant.

Paccot pruning 1

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 08:51:08 +0100

Christophe Bernot examines the as-yet unpruned collection of Swiss vines planted for show by the Paccot team along the edge of the Féchy road.

Roundtable, winemakers in Féchy

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:00:21 +0000

Féchy, walls of ivy in late November, 2006

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:52:23 +0000