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We didn't have all the answers but I felt better for having an idea of what we needed for
our dream to become sustainable. The following day a brochure for a course on commer-
cialising wine appeared. I signed up.
Increasing our production seemed nonsensical since we didn't have a shortage but plan-
ningvineyardproductionislong-term,particularly inFrance.Toplantasinglerowofvines
we had to own or acquire the rights to plant. This could take two years. Once the vineyard
planting rights were in order we could plant the vines but it would be three years before
they produced some grapes and five years to produce a yield worth counting. The vines
needed tenyearstoproducewines ofcomplexity.InFrance winegrowers arenotallowed to
buy in wine to make up a shortfall. They are only allowed to sell wine they have grown. To
buy in wine you had to be a
négociant
, a different business structure to being a winegrower.
Mystified by the complexities of vineyard rights, I called Cécile. She arrived, preferring
to discuss it face to face.
'I'm lost,' I said.
'
Oui. En fait
, it is complicated in France. You need to talk to the INAO and Onivins. Oniv-
ins have changed their name and I don't remember what the new name is.'
'Vinifhlor,' I said. For once, I knew more than Cécile.
'
Oui, exact
. The INAO can give you free rights if you are
jeunes agriculteurs
, up to half a
hectare a year. If not, you have to go to Vinifhlor and buy the rights.'
'Fantastic.' I was getting excited.
'I think you will have trouble getting the rights for
jeunes agriculteurs
because you didn't
get onto the programme at the start. Sometimes it's confusing in France. If you get in at one
level you go all the way, otherwise you are excluded from everything.'
It didn't sound fair. We should be able to plant what we wanted, where we wanted. This
quota system was archaic.
We moved onto the agricultural aspects of planting vines on the old peach field.
'Is the soil prepared?' asked Cécile.
Sean and I exchanged a look. 'Have you worked the soil?' said Cécile having reworked
the question so we could understand it.
'Yes,' we both replied.
'But I think with all the roots from the peaches you must make sure it is well prepared.
You need to plough it with a
charrue
. But make sure you don't go too deep or you could
destroy the soil structure and do more damage than good.'
I turned to Sean. 'Do you know what that is?'
'Yes.'
'Do we have one?'
'No.'
'It would also be better to plant a cover crop of barley,' said Cécile, surging on regardless
of my confusion. 'But to do that you need a
semi.
'
