Petes-Pix: Day 1 - Chateaux, Rivers and Wine

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 Fascinating historical document on viticulture for wine and table grapes, wine and brandy making.

20 September 2026

Day 1 - Chateaux, Rivers and Wine - Viking Forseti

Day 1 - Sunday 20 September 2026

We breakfasted in the open area of the roof-top restaurant, overlooking the Garonne river and the lifting bridge ‘Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas’ to our left. Our boat was moored on the bank ahead, obscured by rooftops.

After breakfast we strolled out to find exactly where the boat, Viking Forseti, was moored so we wouldn’t drag our bags in the wrong direction, then went back to collect our bags and check out. Then to the boat, leaving our cases with the Viking team outside and boarding Forseti. Reception said our cabin (stateroom in Viking parlance) was ready and gave us our room keys.

We had a French balcony on the port side (even numbers) and, apart from one brief period during a day excursion, the boat was always moored with the starboard side to the bank so we had a river view – except when we were rafted.

When we first cruised Bordeaux in 2015 we were never rafted but since then other companies including Scenic, Uniworld, Croisieurope and Avalon also cruise here and all make the same stops. Viking only has one Longship here, Forseti, which was the same craft we were on in 2015. Annual renovations meant the boat didn’t show its age, though its engines were louder than the hybrid engines used on recent Longships

Viking Bordeaux cruises start and end on Sundays, and there’s a quayside market Sunday morning to early afternoon. It was a few yards ahead of the boat, mainly food both cooked and uncooked. At either end are oyster stalls with tables and chairs set out so people can enjoy freshly harvested oysters with a glass of wine.

I found what I was looking for, the stand of Château Grand Brun, a Haut-Medoc Cru Artisan. They sell their wine directly to the public at markets and wine fairs. I’d bought two bottles in 2015, and I bought two of the current 2023 vintage for €10 each.

Back at the boat we enjoyed the embarkation lunch then we walked into Bordeaux and confirmed our favourite restaurant was still closed for renovation after a fire.