Hand Made

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Château d’Hugues, winemaker Bernard Pradier invited regional chefs to a morning of grape picking. Sunshine and the Mistral were also part of the fun.

By Chantal Sarrazin - Photos José Nicolas - October 4, 2011

Chefs amongst the vines – this gathering is worth a snapshot. Invited by Bertrand Pradier, the lively winemaker of Château d’Hugues in the Uchaux Massif in Provence, they swapped their chef’s uniforms for grape picking gear, during a sunny and windy morning. Among them, Pierre Brunot, from the restaurant Le Vernet in Avignon, Laurent de Conenque from L’Oustallet in Gigondas, Thierry Bouchet from 5 Sens in Avignon, Laurence Sapet from the Petite Maison in Cucuron, Jean-Marc Larue from the restaurant Au Jardin de la Tour, and Paul Roussel de la Charette Bleue à Condorcet… Pruning shears in hand, they

picked bunches of Grenache from a plot of land classified as Côtes du Rhone Villages Massif d’Uchaux. The lovely red grapes – perfumed, fresh and healthy – gave an idea of what the 2011 vintage will be like in the Vaucluse. “We’re pretty happy!” confides Bernard Pradier, “because the grape harvest was certainly no picnic. The weather was hot and dry this spring then cool in summer… We had to be extremely selective amongst the vines.” So much so that he harvested his plots in two stages, an unusual decision. “First we collected the least ripe bunches to lighten the stocks. Then we waited for the others

to develop in the shadow of the leaves.” After the harvest, the chefs ate at the table with the other pickers. On the menu, a mixed selection from the grill, homemade fries and cake to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the construction of the Château d’Hugues. An evening to remember! Bernard Pradier has other talents. When he’s not among his vines, he paints in his studio adjoining the property. His paintings are exhibited in the Wine Gallery, Rue Joseph Vernet in Avignon, a space he opened a few years ago, where one can taste his Côtes du Rhone Villages while contemplating his and his son Bastien’s works. Artist and winemaker, he has carved out a unique niche for himself.

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Chateau
d’ Hugues
84100 Uchaux
www.chateaudhugues.fr

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Paul Roussel de la Charette Bleue à Condorcet