Petes-Pix: Paris & the Heart of Normandy

My Books

"Pinotage: Behind the Legends of South Africa's own wine" is available on the ibookstore

Learn more about my new book telling all about Pinotage and read sample pages at
pinotagebook.weebly.com

A I Perold's
A Treatise
on Viticulture
A I Perold (1880-1941) was South Africa's first Professor of Viticulture and Oenology. He dedicated himself to improving the quality of grapes for wine, brandy and the table. He studied wine and brandy production in Europe, imported more than 60 varieties to the Cape and bred new ones. Perold said this book “is intended to serve both the student and the practical grape-grower. There are in it technical passages that will appeal more to the student, e.g. the chapters dealing with the biology of the vine, its external and internal morphology, the theory of grafting. My remarks on the practice of viticulture, such as those dealing with the propagation, manuring and pruning of the vine, the production of table grapes for export, will, it is hoped, assist the practical grape-grower as well as the student.” This is a newly typeset reprint, not a photocopy. Text on the 712 pages have been aligned to match the original pagination so any external references to pages in the Treatise will be valid in this edition
Available in paperback and hardback editions. 712 pages

A Year in Paarl
with
A I Perold

Dr Perolds report on his Paarl experiments 1915 - 1916 reprinted with glossary, introduction and brief biography. Fascinating historical document on viticulture for wine and table grapes, wine and brandy making.

08 September 2024

Paris & the Heart of Normandy – Rouen

Day 4 – Sunday 8 September 2024

Bridge lifts two separated road lanes

We were scheduled to leave Vernon at 05:00 and the morning was spent cruising. We came to the outskirts of Rouen at 11.45 as it started raining. We passed a moored Viking Kari and went down river under an amazing lifting bridge then turned around to come back. Kari moved out and we moored in its place then Kari rafted next to our starboard side.

For dessert at lunch I had the pear from Chateau La Roche-Guyon’s garden. The variety was Buerre d’Angleterre, which translates to ‘Butter of England’ and appears to be an ancient French variety of unknown origin. It had crisp tasty white flesh with a slightly buttery flavour and quickly browned.

Tomb of Ricarde - i.e. Richard (The Lionheart)

The included walking tour of Rouen was excellent, with visits to churches both ancient and modern. In Rouen Cathedral we saw the tombstone of King Richard I – Richard the Lionheart – but just his embalmed heart is buried there.

Rouen Cathedral

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen and at the site is the 1979 Church of Saint Joan of Arc, with a roof like an upturned Viking Longboat. The architect was given the task of incorporating thirteen 16th Century stained glass windows that had been safely stored during WWII from a church that had later been destroyed in bombing.