G.R.A.P.E.S

"They're muscat grapes. They are absolutely delicious, and when they are ripe you are welcome to help yourself to as many as you can eat!"

We were excited to hear that the summer house we had booked in Provence had a small vineyard on the property, and that we were free to eat as many as we pleased as they should ripen toward the end of September, which was just before we were due to depart.

I thought maybe we'd enjoy a bunch or two with some cheese toward the end of our stay.

What I didn't expect was the obsession that developed around said grapes, the daily visits to check their progress, starting in June, with the tiniest of morsels.

Early July saw good growth, some taste testing (fail) and more anticipation building. Elliot's patience was being well and truly tested, despite the sour taste he'd still try and sneak a few in.

Come late July the colour and flavour came in and we knew we were in trouble. Every day we visited the vineyard and would eat a few grapes as we walked through.

In August they became bigger than life itself. I'd often go to the grapes myself, sans toddler, to enjoy a few grapes in the sun, before sneaking back through the yard undetected.

It didn't take long before they became an every morning occurrence. A bunch, large, picked, washed and put in a bowl alongside our baguette, jam and coffee. The most amazing muscat grapes we've had, in abundance, 50 steps from our front door.

It was fantastic to see them grow, although we didn't have a to lift a finger as the grape gypsys would come at night and tend to the vines, we felt a connection to their petit journey over the summer, from their early start, all the way through to the local grocer selling them for 5€80 per kg.

At that price I am guessing we enjoyed around 217€ worth.
(68 good grape eating days x 500g per day + 10% spoilage @ 5€80 / kg)

Scott.