Petes-Pix: Riviera Thomas Hardy - Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence – Avignon>Lyon

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 Fascinating historical document on viticulture for wine and table grapes, wine and brandy making.

15 September 2025

Riviera Thomas Hardy - Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence – Avignon>Lyon – Day 5 - Vienne

Day 5 – Monday 15 September 2025 – Vienne

MS Thomas Hardy moored at Vienne - photo by Dan

The boat was cruising when we woke, and cruised all morning, mooring in Vienne at 13:00.

We enjoyed lunch in the Brasserie where the hamburger was large and delicious. There were no organised excursions, but the Cruise Director would phone for bookings on a Petit Train tour for which €8 pp had to be paid in cash.

Joan was keen to see the Temple of Augustus and Livia. She didn’t recall visiting it on our first trip down the Rhone in 2015. I did, and I remembered a rather nice wine shop next to it. But it was closed on Mondays, as was almost every other shop except for bars, cafes and tabacs.

Joan had forgotten to bring a USB cable and had been told by the Cruise Director they were sold in tabacs. There was no sign of them in the tabac we went in, but after some scrabbling about behind the counter one was produced.

Krisie & Dan about to go to the amphitheatre

Dan & Krisie wanted to go to the amphitheatre, but it was a hot day (28C without any air movement) and the amphitheatre was at the top of a steep hill, so we waited for them on some convenient seating.

Roman Pyramid - photo by Dan

We returned to the ship for a coffee while DP & KD went on to find the Roman pyramid that signified the start of a chariot race track.

Chef's Curry - served with poppadom's most which I've moved to my side plate to stop them becoming soggy

After dinner was a French Ballroom Dance Show by our guide from yesterday, Pierre, and his wife Nicole. Pierre had told us yesterday that they used to travel to Blackpool to take part in international dance competitions, and they’d been champions and that they’d had a dance school in France. The dancing was professional and Nicole changed her costume for each dance.

- photo by DP

Pierre introduced each dance, giving its background and sprinkling in jokes, and the couple danced the length and breadth of the lounge, giving everyone a good view.