La Chantrerie : Le cycle des saisons

Three grape varieties make up the composition of Cahors wine. The main grape variety is the Auxerrois, sometimes called the "Cot noir" which gives the wine it's particular taste.

It makes up at least 70% of the grape content in Cahors wine. To complement the Auxerrois, the Merlot grape (10 - 20%) adds a delicate blackcurrant taste characteristic of the Cabernet wines and the Tannat grape (10%), also a member of the Cot family, is very rich in tannin and has properties that help the wine age. These three grape varieties are converted into wine separately.

Although pruning by the goblet method is still carried out, normally the vines are pruned by the Guyot method. It is the Auxerrois grape that needs this pruning technique. The pruning is carried out in winter; the pruning of shoots is extremely lengthy, and needs many hands. Secateurs, manual or pneumatic, are still the traditional tool for the job. During the month of May any extra growth is taken off including some buds and vines leaves. In the summer the shoots are cut back. As the vines matures, leaves are sometimes taken off to air the grapes and reduce the risk of rotting and to facilitate the harvest.

The cycle of the seasons