• Budbreak: Marks the beginning of cellular multiplication. The budbreak stage starts with the swelling of the buds and lasts until the first sign of the green tip (future leaf). Budbreak usually happens around the second week in May.

• Leaves: The opening of the bud gives way to a cluster of young leaves which will unfold one by one in time. The leaves play a key role for the plant since they are its breathing organ.

• Roots : They also grow! Through them, the vine draws its nutrients and water from the soil.

• Fruit clusters : They appear in the first two weeks of June and are usually found at the tip of the shoot. The branch will keep growing and the clusters will slowly pull away from the terminal growth.

• Blossoming : The opening stage of the flower. It lasts for about eight days. The vine blossoms are hermaphrodites which means they can self-fertilize.

• Pollinisation : Its success varies according to the weather; cold temperatures and rain have a negative impact on it. On the other hand, the wind and insects such as bees are precious allies since they help transfer pollen from one flower to the next. Blossoming happens around the end of May.

• Fruit set : As soon as fertilization is over, the blossom withers and falls. Only the ovary stays on to form the fruit or grape. From the moment the fruit starts developing, we say it is set. Within two months, its diameter will go from 1 and 2 mm to 10 and 20 mm. Fruit setting happens at the end of June.

• Ripening period : This period is characterized by the grapes changing colour. In white varieties like Seyval, the grape becomes translucent then golden. For “black” grapes, they go from light red to a darker shade.

• Grape harvest : When the grapes are mature, we start the harvest. It lasts for about two weeks and requires around 15 people. The harvester handpicks the grapes using a pair of shears and a bucket. The grapes are then brought to the winery where they will be pressed. The harvest usually starts in mid-September. The falling of the leaves marks the end of the growing period. When it starts getting cold, the leaves turn yellow then, at the end of October, they freeze and fall off. The fall happens more quickly under the influence of wind and rain.

• Netting : It supports the vine and allows to distribute the foliage and the fruits clusters. Vertical netting also makes it easier to circulate among the rows. We use 50 cm high T-bars that support wires, the first wire being at the top. The wires are hanging parallel to each other, enabling the vines to grab on. There is about ten plants between T-bars.

• Pruning : C'est une opération essentielle. Elle permet de donner la forme souhaitée aux souches, d'assurer une bonne circulation de la sève, de faciliter les travaux de la culture, de positionner les grappes près du sol afin de bénéficier de la chaleur. La pré-taille est faite après la chute des feuilles à l'automne, la taille définitive a lieu au printemps. Elle est réalisée à l'aide d'un sécateur manuel par environ 8 personnes.

•Ridging-up and ploughing-back: These delicate operations are done mechanically using machinery that was developed on-site. The technique aims to protect the root from frost damage since below -25° C, the plant sustains damages that can keep it from producing grapes for many years. This is why we cover all the plants with a ridge of earth of between 30 and 40 cm high by 50 cm wide. Earth is a good thermal barrier since in the coldest of winter, the inside of the ridge only drops to -6° C.

• Ridging-up: End of October
• Ploughing-back: Beginning of May