Hidden spot

Truffles plantation are rather well protected. The price of this small gastronomic mushroom explains this necessary discretion. After 5′ mn  walking on a nice path in the woods, met sheeps and horses and seen footprints of wild boars, we arrived to the security fence of the truffle plantation. 650 green and durmasts oaks, planted in  perfect rows. Located on a large limestone plateau as it exists numerous in Charente, the truffle plantation is  15 years old. A drip irrigation system for each tree allows to get  truffles even if summer has been dry.

A fine team

Friends of Chantal, natives from next Dordogne place, have given her the passion of truffle. She began on a small area in her orchard, and then has created from scratch this outstanding place. It requires significant time all the year long, as it’s not sufficient to plant trees and wait for harvest time.

She is fascinating with her dogs, the famous truffle-dogs lagoto romagnolo. Thoses italian dogs coming from Emile Romagne near Ravenna, were known as excellent hunters of waterfowls. After the drying out of the swamps they « lost their job » and moved as truffle hunters with great success !

A pleasant game for them

Timeless ritual begins just after Chantal closes the fence : Flo (white) and Masca (grey) run around, play together, eat grass…After 5′ Chantal give a brief order and the two dogs begin their search under the trees.  Masca, only 13 months year old and an already great instinct, suddenly stops…. and begins to dig in a hurry. Chantal must react quickly  as Masca do love truffle…

Flo, Masca mother, uses an other process. It just stops where the truffle is supposed to lie, and indicates the place with its leg. Then the two dogs wait for their reward before they go any further : they are crazy about small cheeseparts.

Waiting for cheese !

Chantal get down on her knews and very slowly and gently looks for the truffle. To have seen her, I can tell you that it’s a true work of patience and carefully gestures. Look at the video to judge.

Great practice is needed, as on the first sight, I could not make the difference between loose soil and truffle !

Maintenance of  a truffle plantation

Trees have to be carefully pruned each year, as sun and light must cross the leaves. Chantal has developped tips and tricks and keep secret the right moment for pruning. The more the tree grows, the more the « brulé » (burnt) widespreads : grass don’t grow at all. This « brulé » indicates the growth of the roots around the tree, and consequently the place where truffles are supposed to be.

And indeed, Chantal mowes several times a year between the rows to keep the truffle plantation in perfect conditions.

Back to her home, Chantal was proud to show me one of her discovery of the past days : a piece of more than 100 gr, a true black diamond !

I loved this awesome moment in nature with the dogs, on a sunny cold winter day just before Xmas. Thanks so much Chantal, it has been a real pleasure to share this moment with you. And I have a lot of progress to do before being an expert !

L’article Hunting the black diamond : the truffle est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Like an oasis among frozen fields. Imposant houses, called « Logis » protected by high walls, big porch, and old evergreeen trees,  are numerous  in our cognac region. People living here are rather discreet : show off is not their religion at all….

Too cold for me for early morning running :  -2,5°C.

Sun tries to cross the clouds. Winter time is the period of pruning. Winegrowers work  even if it’s frozen. Work still to be done here…

Do you remember the small Church of Eraville in  the post of last october ? Numerous roman churches nearby vineyards are integral part of cognac landscape.

Typical « Grande Champagne »  landscape : smooth hills, chalky soils. The eaux de vie coming from here give  fine cognacs, requiring long ageing in  oak casks to achieve full maturity.  The origin of the word « Champagne »,  comes from the latin word « campania » which means  open fields (opposite to woods and forests)

Young truffles trees, such as some green oaks, hazelnuts or linden trees, grow on thoses chalky slopes. A perfect soil for the trees and then for the truffles…

Like soldiers ready for the parade, poplars  on Charente banks.

Sun’s coming around 11 am, and quicly the white coat disappears for a while, till the next night.

In fact a quite bright winter day, and a excellent opportunity to wear  turtleneck knit, coat with large collar, boots, gloves. As  it’s impossible to take pictures with them, I have now frozen hands…

Time to come home near the fireplace, even if I am sure that our  cat « Philo », is already on the best place and not really ready to leave it !

L’article Winter weather in cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

After the distillation, the eau-de-vie, begins its long ageing period in oak casks, carefully stored in the darkness and humidity of the cellars. The natural porosity of the wood, allow exchanges between air and eau-de-vie. A natural process which gives progressively to cognac, its unique flavor, amber color and bouquet. The evaporation is called « la part des anges » the share of the angels. We used to say that angels are a bit greedy : they « drunk » the  equivalent of 20 millions of bottles per year. This evaporation feed a very small fungus called torula compnaciencis, covering walls and roofs of the cellars. So, the black walls protect a treasure slowly ageing out of sight.

The black truffle

The truffle, appreciated by the gourmets,  likes the chalky clay soil of cognac, close to Atlantic ocean, since several centuries. King of France François 1er, born in Cognac,  would be the one who instigated to the developpement of the culture here. After the phylloxera disaster at the end of 19 century, winegrowers who lost all their vineyards, planted trees devoted to truffles. Nowadays, 700 ha are hidden in cognac region. The tuber melanosporum is harvested between december and march. The business of gathering and selling the truffles is still surrounded by tradition and some mystery…

Man & dog searching for truffle – demo  organized by the Charente « syndicat des trufficulteurs »

At the season time, we will go to a particular place : the truffle market of Jarnac. The sales start at 9:30 am at the sound of the horn.

May be the poetic story of « la part des anges » could inspire  Pierre Soulages, one of the most renowned french contemporaty artist in the world. Master of the black and one of the leading figure of abstract art,  he is present in some 90 museums,  has created more than 1,500 works of art and held countless exhibitions around the globe.

L’article Black colour means wealthy in cognac est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.