During my recent visit to Domaine Sarabande in Faugères, I came across a fantastical piece of agricultural equipment that seemed to be equal part H.G. Wells “War of the Worlds” and NASA lunar rover.
A cracking good machine.
Upon closer examination, I noticed nozzles on the inside of its four spider-like legs, and I realized that it was a sprayer used to prevent grapevine diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. This particular sprayer looked like it had been built to enter in the Wallace and Gromit “World of Cracking Ideas” competition. Perhaps it was the seat, which appeared to have been borrowed from a Kenworth or Peterbilt truck. Or perhaps it was the Erector Set look of its heavy-gauge frame and plastic sheet roof, not to mention other custom details like the VW bus rearview mirrors. But on closer examination, it became apparent that the beauty of this sprayer was not in its form—it was in its function.
This would be a great time for a cheese break.
As mentioned in that previous post, Johnny Couchman, the man who designed and built this sprayer, is respectively, the father and father-in-law of Isla and Paul Gordon, the young owners of Domaine Sarabande. Couchman was on site, looking rather Wallace-like as he made some modifications to the sprayer’s hydraulic system. He had hauled the sprayer on a trailer to France from Ireland, where he had welded and hammered it into shape, and now he wanted to ensure that his creation was ready to fight the springtime humidity before he returned, erupting-Icelandic-volcano permitting, home.
He took time out from his adjustments to demonstrate to me how the sprayer can be first set down on its frame in order to extend and retract the wheels that run between the rows of vines, and then raised up to drive it through the vineyards or on back roads. It reminded me of an insect in the way that the truncated frame, which swivels in the center, lowers and raises, while the wheels extend out and retract inward to adapt to the grapevine row width.
Over a cup of tea, he explained about how he had taught himself all of the necessary welding, hydraulic, mechanical and electrical skills needed to build agricultural equipment. Couchman grew up and lives on a 60-ha hay farm in Carlow, Ireland, 50 miles south of Dublin. His hay, he explains, is used to nourish Irish thoroughbred racehorses. Besides his high-octane hay, he also has planted dozens of varieties of oak trees on his farm. A horticulturist friend of his who travels around the world collecting oaks provided him with these oak trees.
The sprayer that he built for his daughter and son-in-law is a modified version of one that he had built for himself. And this isn’t even the most unusual thing that he’s built; that would be, he guesses, an amphibious truck.
There’s no doubt that this sprayer is going to keep the Domaine Sarabande vines safe from mildew. When Paul Gordon told me how he had lost 8 pounds (3½ kilos) last spring while hauling around an aerosol sprayer on his back, he looked like he wanted to give Couchman a well-deserved hug.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MtKbhRG-bY[/youtube]
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Have just returned from a weekend in Faugeres where I had the privilege of tasting their first wines in bottle at the annual Fete du Vin in the village. A fantastic event where all the local wine producers give free tastings of their new wines. Wow what a fantastic first effort. The red is so full bodied yet so smooth. The rose was delicious and chatting to them both later in the day I believe they sold out of their supplyof Rose. Well done to both of them, a lovely couple and they deserve continuing success.
Sounds like you had a fine weekend in Faugères, Barry. Were you there for the Fête du Cru à Faugères on July 9?