In The Time Of The Grapes

In the time of Covid

I want to finish part 2 of the Stanley Lewis story in Florence, however, I came to my village in France and have been filming In The Time Of The Grapes and the stories of the village people. The harvest lasts a short time and overtakes village life.

Tuchan village 2020 on the road to Paziols

Twenty years ago I lived in my village of Tuchan in the south of France. Then I left for Montreal in Canada to chase dreams with my daughter. Twenty years later I have come back during the time of Covid, while waiting to go back to my job in China. I relive those moments that never change in the village - that cannot change - as Tuchan depends on the seasonal routine of nature where the grapes yield wine.

Alain Perez vineyard, Ségur - direction Palarac - 7.00am - first day of autumn, St. Maurice

The ancientness. Old mists, sun breaking through the lens of my camera, dew on the leaves, me thinking of all the old friends once more found, and old enemies also found. Village soaps and sagas, deaths, births and marriages unfold like the seasons.

The porter, Maurice, at Ségur

This is the first time in twenty years I can assist with the grape picking. I have filmed for two weeks in and around my village. Stories of Covid, of rugby, of the bar which is sold to be reopened, the pickers coming in. I have also found old images I shot twenty years ago of friends no longer here.

There is always a reason for everything. As my dear friend, the Montreal sculptor, Stanley said, “always take your work tools with you.”

Covid has given me time off my work in China, to spend more time with my family and the Tuchan I love and know so well. This will be my gift, “les temps des vendanges”, “In the time of the grapes.”

Ségur, morning. Photo: Jeanne Pope

9am. Ségur

There are ladybirds, wasps, bees and crickets at the beginning of the picking in the big heat. Later, as the weather changes, baby birds’ nests, spiders’ webs and snails hide in the leaves, leaves lost in coarse vine thickets.

We are 10 people: 2 Germans, 4 Portuguese, 2 Spanish, 2 French, and me. Hectare after vine hectare, time worn, sometimes tired, stony, young and fresh, newly planted, crippled and tangled, as old as 50 years or more. Or as young as two years.

The cutting time by hand is shorter, as machines have taken over a lot of the work. Now down to 2 weeks. Covid has bothered the harvest, but once out in the vines the masks come down as it is clear air out there, vines separated by vines, enough of a space. There are moments when everyone talks or jests all at once, then silence, just the clicking of metal pruners and light bird song.

Then it is over. We have the wild parties to celebrate the end, then the winds turn, and the village once again is silent.

The process of fermentation will begin at the cave co-operative.

Photos: Jeanne Pope: The bread shop and team. Alain Perez the boss. Early morning vines. Maurice and Florence.

Have a great week. Thanks for passing by. JeanneX

Getting the bin ready for the wine co-operative in Tuchan

Maurice prepares the grape bin. Photo: Jeanne Pope

The lovers