Suggestions of Spring

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems by heart. (Rainer Maria Rilke)

GEOFFREY FINCH

MAR 20

Spring has sprung, the grass iz riz,I wonder where da boidies iz?Da boid iz on da wing! Ain’t that absoid?I always hoid da wing...wuz on da boid!Anonymous, though often attributed to Ogden Nash

Though there’s still a nip in the air, the warmth of the sun on one’s back is proof positive the end of winter is heralding the arrival of Spring. The urban world doesn’t include gambolling lambs, or frisky bunnies, but nature’s renaissance is very much in full swing, and can be seen everywhere there are trees and green. Except in the city’s vineyards, which still resemble dead sticks bereft of life…

Pruning vines is an activity that happens throughout winter, but is best in early Spring, because if pruned too early, a hard frost in late winter can damage the canes and buds.

An opportunity to discover the art of grapevine pruning in a convivial and festive atmosphere is taking place this weekend at the Racines du Templevineyard in Vauhallan. For full details about how to participate, click on the image below:

lesracinesdutemple

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“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard's Egg

When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring.Madeleine M. Kunin

A stroll through the Jardin des Plantes on a sunny Spring morning reveals a floral effusion of bright burgeoning bud break.

Blossoms and flowers

By contrast, the vines of the ecological garden of the Jardin des Plantes still look like dead sticks:

But vines, when they do begin to leaf, come on with vigorous alacrity, suddenly transforming from stark, bare branches to effusive verdure.

And in this nascent Spring, what better way to commune with nature than a wine walk? Or gather a group and discover one of our cultural tours where the role of the vine unwinds historical tales of Paris’ viticultural past while sighting some of the city’s most famous landmarks.

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.”L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

Santé!

My book, ‘The Hidden Vineyards of Paris’ (reviewed in Jancis Robinson’s wine blog, the Wine Economist, National Geographic Traveler UK, UK Telegraph) is available for purchase via our website and at anglophone bookshops and wine shops in Paris. You can also find it at the Musée de Montmartre and the Librairie Gourmande.