2011 Loire harvest now underway

Picking 2011 Sauvignon Blanc in the Cher Valley (30th August)

The 2011 harvest is now well underway for the early grape varieties: mainly Sauvignon Blanc plus Chardonnay for sparkling wines. Our friends at the Clos Roche Blanche started on Friday 26th August. This is well in advance of normal – probably around two weeks even three weeks on late starting vintages. The start is not quite as early as was anticipated in early June as July was cold and wet, so slowed everything down. 

The fruit in the Cher Valley is looking good at the moment, although the forecast for today is storms and rain is predicted for the early part of next week.

2011 Sauvignon Blanc – Cher Valley

Picking machine in action

Sauvignon Blanc@Noëlla Morantin

Sancerre and Pouilly

Things look a little more complicated in Sancerre and Pouilly with more signs of rot than I saw in the Cher Valley. However, I only had time to have a quick look at the vines in Sancerre and Pouilly nor did I get to parts of the Cher Valley that had very heavy rain in late August.