Véraison has arrived at Long Dog Wines, and it’s one of those moments in the season where the vineyard quietly tells you how the year is really going. The berries soften, colour creeps in, sugars start to rise, and suddenly everything feels a lot more… committed.
This year, the crop is looking strong. Balanced canopies, healthy bunches, good airflow. And nowhere is the character of the vineyard more obvious than in our two red varieties: Cabernet Franc and Tannat.
They may share the same soil, sun and weather, but they could not behave more differently.
Did you know?
Véraison marks the start of true ripening, when grapes shift from growth to flavour development.
Cabernet Franc: the well-mannered one
Cabernet Franc is elegance in vine form.
The growth is tidy and measured. Shoots are upright, bunches are evenly spaced, and the vine seems to understand personal boundaries. During véraison, the berries colour evenly, almost politely, as if they’ve all agreed on the timing beforehand.
You can walk a Cab Franc block and read it easily. Nothing surprises you. Nothing gets in the way. It’s a vine that rewards careful pruning and gentle guidance. Do your job properly early in the season, and Cab Franc thanks you by behaving impeccably.
If this vineyard had a dress code, Cab Franc would follow it.
Did you know?
Cabernet Franc ripens earlier than many red varieties, which makes it well-suited to cooler sites and shorter seasons.
Tannat: organised chaos
Tannat, on the other hand, has never met a rule it liked.
The growth is vigorous and unapologetic. Shoots head off at odd angles, bunches appear where you weren’t expecting them, and there are a lot of them. During véraison, colour comes in unevenly at first. Some berries charging ahead, others lagging behind, until eventually the vine pulls itself together.
Tannat is prolific. Heavy bunches, thick skins, and a stubborn resilience that makes you work harder as a vineyard manager. It needs firm decisions, regular passes, and a slightly sterner tone of voice. Left unattended, it would happily take over the farm.
There’s a wild confidence to it. Less refinement, more momentum.
Did you know?
Tannat has some of the thickest grape skins of any red variety, contributing to its deep colour and firm tannin structure.
Same farm, two personalities
Seeing these two varieties side by side at véraison is one of the quiet joys of the job. One calm and considered, the other bold and unruly. Both healthy, both promising, both very much themselves.
Dino wandered past earlier and inspected the Tannat with obvious approval. He likes abundance.
Noodle keeps a close eye on the Cab Franc rows. Orderly vines make for efficient patrol routes.
Ziggy, of course, prefers whichever block has the best light for photos.
Me? I like the contrast. It reminds you that good wine isn’t about forcing uniformity. It’s about understanding character and working with it.
The vineyard is speaking clearly this year. And so far, it’s saying we’re on the right track.
Until the next walk-through,
Sam – Vineyard Manager, Long Dog Wines
