This article “Winter Pruning: Why so Severe?” first appeared on Michèle Foster’s Think Pink Blog. Pruning: Out with the Old In wintertime, I find myself feeling a little sorry for the grapevines at the vineyards in Provence. The pruning looks severe, but we know that grapes grow on one-year-old wood. Buds on older branches just yield leaves or shoots. So, we get rid of the old branches so we can get fruit on every branch in the next growing season. Another pruning takes place during veraison (fruit ripening period) in the summer. This is where the grape bunches are thinned out so that all of the bunches will be well-nourished (and not exhaust the vine), and so they won’t be too crowded together, allowing air to move freely around them and keep them healthy. There have been times in my life where I felt like a grapevine in winter – like life was treating me severely. But, in fact, I was being pruned so I could live a more vital and fruitful life! There are seasons in life where we need to let go of old things that are no longer serving us, and let new things come in that can revitalize us. Sometimes, when things or relationships are taken away from us, it is painful. Next time this happens to you, try thinking of it as a pruning. Consider that while it was a fruitful experience or relationship in its season, now a new season is here, and new things will come that will add to the abundance in your life. Pruning is a severe but beneficial part of a grapevine’s life cycle, and it’s good for us, too. Wine Pro Tip: Grapevine branches are great for BBQing! If you live near a vineyard, ask them to save you some branches next time they prune, so you can use them in your BBQ pit.
Guest Post · Taste · Wines and Spirits of Provence Summer is Rosé Time in Provence. Is 2024 a Good Vintage? July 8, 2025Now that summer is here, rosé wines will become even more interesting, but what about the rosé wine from Provence vintage 2024? Göran Boman, a wine expert and connoisseur of Provencal wines, recently wrote a post on his blog, “Is Provence Rosé Vintage 2024 Good?” More and more rosé is considered a wine that belongs …Continue Reading
Artists Inspired by Provence · Guest Post · Inspire Discover What Makes Les Ateliers Ouverts Forcalquier’s Most Wonderful Art Festival July 4, 2025The annual festival Les Ateliers Ouverts has become a must-attend event for both tourists and residents of Forcalquier and the surrounding area. The twelfth edition will take place from July 25 to 29, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Each year, nearly a thousand visitors attend this event …Continue Reading
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Local Food Producers · Provencal Recipes · Taste The Summer Truffle Festival in Aups is a Culinary Treat – Don’t Miss Out! June 23, 2025Located between the Mediterranean coast and the Alps, the village of Aups sits at 505 metres (1,657 ft). Considered the capital of the Haut-Var, this mid-sized town has a population of roughly 2200 residents. However, on a busy summer weekend, Aups attracts many visitors. It is considered the “gateway” to the Verdon Regional Natural Park, …Continue Reading
Guest Post · Provencal Recipes · Seasonal Menus · Taste Make this Provencal Summer Menu Inspired by Seasonal Flavours June 20, 2025Cynthia Moos is a Provence native and the founder of Best French Forever, a lifestyle brand dedicated to women inspired by the Provençal art de vivre. Her mission is to invite women to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and curate a life they love. We asked Cynthia if she would curate our 2025 summer menu. …Continue Reading