1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 413 High-end scenery paired with high-end accommodation

Lourmaran is located on the southern slopes of the Luberon Mountains, and its terrain exhibits typical characteristics of a transitional zone between valleys, hills, and mountains.

The core area covers approximately 0.5 square kilometers, while the remaining 20 square kilometers consist of 60% farmland, 30% wasteland and forest, and the rest of the area is used for residential areas and agricultural facilities.

Although Lourmaran is not a nest village built on a hillside, the village center is at an altitude of 200 meters, and the highest point is located at the foot of the Luberon Mountains in the north, at an altitude of about 500 meters.

Among the topographic features of 'valley-hill-mountain', the southern plain is an alluvial valley with fertile soil and strong water retention, where crops such as olives, vegetables and fruits are mostly grown.

The village is bordered by a large south-facing hillside with plenty of sunshine, covered with terraced fields. The soil is rich in calcium and well-drained, but has less organic matter. However, this is typical Mediterranean vineyard soil, and most of Lourmarin's vineyards are located here.

The western side of the village is a steep limestone cliff, mostly covered by wasteland and forest.

Of these three terrain types, the terraced fields on the north side of the village are the most expensive because the south-facing terrain allows the grapes to grow more vigorously.

But Ronan's first requirement for Pierre to find land was a north-facing hillside.

"How many years has this land been abandoned?" Ronan squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil.

Pierre stomped the dirt a few times with the soles of his shoes:
"At least two years. The last one planted was Clare, a white grape that prefers shade, but the altitude here is too high, over 300 meters, which would pose a great risk of frost. Nobody wanted to plant in such a 'fearful' place. Old Nemo had been trying to sell the land, but he couldn't."

While some native grape varieties in Provence can indeed be grown on north-facing slopes, such as the white grape Clerais, as well as Cinsault and Mourvèdre, where reduced sunlight exposure can prolong ripening and enhance tannin structure, they are more often planted in lower-altitude areas.

Moreover, the yield of north-facing slopes is usually 20%-30% lower than that of south-facing slopes.

Pierre said, both amused and exasperated:
"If you hadn't made such a strange request, I would have almost forgotten about this land."

This abandoned farmland, which everyone disliked, was exactly what Ronan needed.

Merlot is better suited to growing in mild, cool climates; the hot Mediterranean climate is too harsh for it.

North-facing slopes can effectively reduce direct sunlight.

Ronan stood up and looked around:
What is the altitude here?

Pierre was intimately familiar with all agricultural information in Lourmarin:

"About 400 meters."

"The altitude is just right," Ronan muttered to himself.

The greater temperature difference between day and night at high altitudes is more conducive to the growth of Merlot.

However, he quickly sighed in disappointment and then threw the dirt in his hand away:
“But Lourmaran doesn’t have the clay-limestone mixture I’m looking for.”

This was his second condition for Pierre.

Clay-limestone mixtures are characteristic of Bordeaux soils and are best suited for Merlot.

Pierre shook his head and said:
"No, the hillside is weathered limestone soil, the southern part is alluvial sandy soil, and the hilly areas have clay, but it contains a high amount of calcium. There is no clay-limestone mixed soil as you described."

“There’s no other way, we’ll have to change it.” Ronan clicked his tongue. “Change the soil composition.”

"Are you sure you can change it?" Pierre asked, somewhat uncertain.

The farmers in Lourmaran have only ever thought about how to make the soil more fertile; changing the nature of the soil is something they have never even heard of and dare not even think about.

Planting new grapes is challenging enough.

They're actually going to change the soil too?

“It can be improved,” Ronan said confidently. “The soil composition can be improved in the spring, and the structure can be stabilized after a rainy season. It can be planted in the fall and will sprout next spring.”

In fact, this is just a relatively simple soil improvement method, which can be solved at level 4 [planting].

The slopes of Lourmaran are composed of weathered limestone soil. By simply cultivating a certain proportion of clay into an area of ​​60-80 centimeters, it can be transformed into the clay-limestone mixed soil that Ronan desired.

However, the two types of soil that have just been combined are not yet stable and need a period of natural settling. If the seedlings are introduced too hastily, the unstable soil properties may cause the grapevines to die.

Rainfall and irrigation can promote the natural settling of both types of soil. After about 3-6 months, the soil structure will stabilize, which is exactly when autumn arrives.

In autumn, the soil retains the residual heat of summer, which is conducive to the initial growth of the root system. Last October, the average soil temperature in Lourmarin was around 18 degrees Celsius, which meets the needs of grape roots.

Seeing Pierre's 'I don't believe it' look, Ronan brought out an expert:

"This is what the experts recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture said. They said there is no problem with changing the soil composition."

The moment the word "expert" was mentioned, Pierre's expression clearly became much more convinced:

"How do I change it? Is it complicated?"

This was uncharted territory for him.

Ronan stroked his chin and said:
"It's not that it's troublesome, but the cost will increase. Do you know the price of clay now?"

Pierre nodded:
"30-50 francs per ton".

Ronan quickly began to calculate in his mind.

To achieve successful improvement, 100-150 tons of clay need to be added per hectare. Transportation costs in Luberon are much higher than in the plains, so the cost per hectare could potentially increase by 1 francs.
This is no small expense.

"How many plots of farmland like this on the north slope are directly cultivable?" Ronan asked Pierre, turning to him. Pierre recalled and said:
"It's about 5 or 6 hectares. I need to go back and confirm."

"Only 5 or 6 hectares?" Ronan's disappointment was palpable.

That's far too little!

Juliet allocated 20 hectares.
“Things are valued for their scarcity. 800 hectares of Merlot can fetch 3000 francs because of its rarity, and 5 or 6 hectares would be even more valuable. Besides, this is just the ‘experimental’ stage. Once the ‘planting’ skill is upgraded to level 6, I might be able to improve other soils as well, and then I can think of other ways to increase the planting area.” Ronan comforted himself in this way.

“I think I’ve finished reading it. Let’s go back now.” Ronan waved to Pierre, indicating that he could leave.

On the way back, Ronan stood on this hillside and looked ahead. He found that although it was a north-facing slope, the scenery was very good. He could see the valley and the distant villages. It was a very good viewpoint in Lourmaran village.

Because Lourmaran village is located in a valley, such a panoramic viewpoint is very rare. The southern slope is indeed higher, but it offers a different view.

After imagining what the area would look like with lush grapevines in the future, Ronan turned around, pointed to a higher spot, and asked Pierre:
"What's up there? Up on the hillside where this farmland is located."

Pierre glanced back:
"Wasteland, that's all. What can Lourmaran have? It's all farmland and wasteland, nothing else."

Upon returning to the village center, Ronan did not go straight home, but instead went to the Lourmaran government office first.

This time he didn't run into the intern again, but instead bumped into Sylvie.

"Aren't you going to train Cornell anymore?" Ronan asked her with a smile.

The Rosé Museum is about to open for trial operation. These past few days, Sylvie has been giving Cornell professional training, not only introducing Stellar, but also the history of rosé and Lourmarin, etc.

Cornell said he had never memorized this much material when he was in school.

“Condina is training him.” Sylvie didn’t linger for a moment, brushing past Ronan like a hurricane. “I’m not talking to you anymore, I’ve been so busy lately.”

"Hey, is Blanco busy?" Ronan called to her from behind.

Everyone's been very busy, with the general meeting just finished and the rosé wine museum about to open.

If Blanco is busy, Ronan can come at another time.

Sylvie's voice drifted faintly from afar:

"No matter how busy I am, I will still take you in. Just go ahead and go."

Unlike usual, Blanco's office was closed today.

Having come this far, Ronan gently knocked on the door a few times, and soon Blanco's "Come in" came from inside.

Ronan pushed the door open just a crack, big enough for only one head to pass through, and asked sheepishly:
"Are you busy?"

The next second, he saw Quincy and Juliet sitting opposite Blanco, and quickly closed the door:

"I'll come again this afternoon."

People from the Tourism Bureau and the Ministry of Agriculture were there; they must be discussing something important, so he didn't want to disturb them.

“Ronan!” Blanco called out to him. “Wait a moment.”

Ronan didn't know what Blanco said inside, but less than a minute later, Quincy and Juliet came out of the office one after the other.

Both officials are currently staying at the only hotel in Lourmaran on the commercial street. Quincy has been staying there for more than half a month, while Juliet arrived yesterday.

Quincy greeted Ronan warmly, but Juliet remained the same as always, nodding as a greeting and still refusing to 'recognize' Ronan.

After the two officials from the province of Vaucluse left, Ronan went in and sat down in their original seats:
"You can receive them first."

Blanco miraculously pulled two glasses from the drawer, and then pulled out a bottle of rosé wine:

“We’ve just finished talking. Come on, come on. Last time I let you try some grapes, and there was a lot of rosé wine left. You should come often in the future and finish it off quickly.”

Blanco poured some for himself as well:
"I'll just have a little bit to drink, what's up?"

Ronan said in a calm tone:

“I’ve found a piece of land that’s perfect for growing new grapes.”

“That’s a good thing,” Blanco said with a smile. “If there’s anything we need the government’s help with during the process, just let us know.”

Ronan looked for the map of Lourmaran on the wall; he remembered having one in Blanco's office.

"I also have my eye on a piece of land around there, in Janske."

Blanco agreed to allow Ronan to build a factory in the surrounding area, which was suitable for planting the new grape varieties.

“Where?” Blanco asked.

Ronan stood in front of the map and pointed to the north-facing hillside that Pierre had taken him to see earlier that day:
“Here, I plan to use this farmland to try planting Merlot, while Stella will be built higher up on this hillside, preferably at the top.”

"You want to build the winery on the mountain?" Blanco hadn't expected Ronan to choose this location.

Ronan tapped the map and said seriously:
“Actually, the winery could be built at the bottom, but the ‘Red Wine Castle’ is more suitable for the hilltop. I think it has the best view of Lourmarin there. High-end accommodation with high-end scenery is just right.”

(End of this chapter)