The flowering of the vine in Burgundy is a discreet yet essential moment in the winegrower's calendar. After the vine awakens in spring and the young shoots grow, the future bunches enter a phase where their harvest potential begins to take shape. At Pouilly-Fuissé, on the limestone slopes around Solutré, we follow this period closely, never forgetting that the vine keeps its own rhythm.

It is not yet a matter of seeing flowers as in a garden. The flowering of the Chardonnay is read in small details: the floral caps detach, the organs of the flower appear and fertilization can take place. A few days of favourable conditions can shape the regularity of the bunches that will ripen later in our vineyard.

The flowering of the vine in Burgundy, a short stage

Flowering generally occurs at the end of spring, with a date that varies according to the vintage, the exposure of the plots and the weather conditions. Between a vine located in a cooler area and a more sheltered or better-exposed plot, the gap can be noticeable. This diversity is part of the daily reading of the vineyard.

In the vine, the inflorescences were already present, in embryonic form, in the buds formed the previous year. In spring, they develop progressively. When the flowers open, the vine moves from the promise of a bunch to a stage of fertilization: each fertilized flower is likely to become a berry.

The duration of this phase largely depends on the weather. With mild, dry and relatively stable weather, it can unfold quickly and evenly. Conversely, coolness, persistent rain or windy spells can slow the process and make the flowering less even.

How to recognize Chardonnay's flowers?

The vine flower is very different from an ornamental flower. It is small, greenish and gathered within the inflorescence that will form the bunch. Before it opens, it is covered by a thin cap called the floral cap. At the moment of flowering, this cap detaches: this is the visible sign that the flower is entering its active phase.

Chardonnay, the grape variety of our Pouilly-Fuissé cuvées, has so-called hermaphrodite flowers: they bring together the male and female organs necessary for fertilization. This can therefore take place within the flower itself, even though air movement and the absence of excessive humidity favour the smooth progress of the whole.

Among the rows, one must come close to observe this phenomenon. From a distance, the future bunches remain modest and unspectacular. Yet it is precisely at this moment that we can begin to appreciate the apparent density of the inflorescences and their progress according to the plots.

Flowering weather: why does it matter so much?

The weather strongly influences the quality of fruit set, that is, the transition from the fertilized flower to the young fruit. The vine does not react to a single day: it is the sequence of conditions during flowering that matters. Calm and sufficiently mild weather is generally favourable, while unsettled conditions can weaken the balance of this stage.

Heavy rain can hinder the fall of the floral caps or limit fertilization. Marked cold, strong wind or significant thermal variability can also cause different reactions from one plot to another. The Burgundy vineyard, fragmented and shaped by its relief, makes these differences particularly interesting to observe.

At flowering, we look less at a date on the calendar than at the real state of each plot.

It would, however, be reductive to draw definitive conclusions too soon. A beautiful flowering does not alone guarantee the quality of a vintage, any more than a more delicate episode sums up an entire season. Summer, ripeness, the health of the grapes and the decisions made in the vineyard and then in the cellar will count just as much.

Coulure and millerandage: two phenomena to understand

When part of the flowers do not fertilize or when the young fruits fall shortly after forming, this is called coulure. The bunches may then be less full. This phenomenon can be linked to the climatic conditions during flowering, but also to the vigour of the vine or its overall balance.

Millerandage, for its part, refers to the presence, within the same bunch, of berries of different sizes. Some berries remain small, often because they contain few or no seeds after incomplete fertilization. This heterogeneity can have consequences on the harvest volume and on the way the grapes develop until the harvest.

These terms are not automatically synonymous with poor quality. They describe situations that the winegrower observes and interprets in their context. A more airy bunch can, for example, dry more easily after rain; but strong irregularity can also complicate the monitoring of ripeness. There is therefore no single reading, only constant attention to the living plant.

Observing without rushing decisions in the vineyard

During flowering, the work consists first of walking through the vines. We compare the progress of the plots, look at the regularity of the inflorescences and stay attentive to weather forecasts. These observations add to those carried out since budburst and feed our understanding of the current vintage.

Protecting the vineyard also requires precision. Any interventions are decided based on disease pressure, the weather and the stage of the vine. At this sensitive time, it is especially important to respect the fragility of the inflorescences and to choose the right moment to act when necessary.

Managing the vegetation is also approached with measure. A balanced vine must have foliage capable of ensuring photosynthesis, while maintaining satisfactory air circulation around the bunches. Actions vary according to the vigour of the plot, its soil, its exposure and how the season unfolds.

  • Observe the fall of the floral caps and the progress of the bunches.
  • Follow the evolution of the weather at the scale of each sector.
  • Assess the balance between foliage, growth and number of inflorescences.
  • Adapt the work to the real needs of the vine, without automatism.

From flower to harvest, the long time of Chardonnay

After flowering comes fruit set, then the swelling of the berries. The bunches gradually take their summer shape. They remain green for several weeks, before entering veraison, the period when the grapes begin their journey towards ripeness.

In our southern Burgundy, Chardonnay expresses the nuances of each site throughout this journey. The limestone soils of Solutré, the exposures, the water reserve and the year's weather accompany its development. Flowering is only one chapter, but it directly connects the patient work of the vine to the harvest to come.

This period also reminds us of the humility inherent to this craft. We can tend the vine, observe it and seek to preserve its balance; we do not control the climate nor the exact rhythm of nature. It is precisely this attention, season after season, that gives meaning to our work and to the identity of our cuvées.

When does the flowering of the vine take place in Burgundy?

The flowering of the vine in Burgundy most often takes place at the end of spring, but its date varies according to temperatures, weather, altitude and the exposure of the plots. To follow it properly, one must observe the vines directly: from one vintage to another, and even within the same appellation, the timing can shift.