…Back to today – a summary of the information on Wikipedia tells us:
“Cider is an alcoholic beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of the fruits of any of the plants in the Rosaceae family, and the Pomoideae subfamily in particular, which includes apples, pears and quinces; its manufacture originates in the Middle Ages. More than 95% of global cider production is made with apples, but for connoisseurs, the cider with the best bouquet seems to be made from quinces, and is very rare. In France, the fermentation of pears produces a cider-like beverage called perry.

This drink is very popular in France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland and production is particularly concentrated in Normandy and in Asturias. In contrast, its origins in Italy are difficult to determine …”
This is a useful means to introduce the pleasant conversation which we had with Mr Jean-Pierre Lebreton, the owner of a farmstead which covers a total area of 126 hectares, including almost 9 hectares of apple trees dedicated to cider production, which are the focus of our article below.

We are in the town of Rene, north of Mans, in north-central France. We are in a region called the “Pays de La Loire” in the department of “Sarthe” (NR 72).

Mr Lebreton owns a 1500-liter-capacity Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer, to which he was first introduced and explained the benefits by the company CHABAS SA (appointed “Martignani-KWH System” distributor for France) during a demonstration event called the “Sées 61 Technical Day,” as the result of which, he bought a unit at the end of 2009.

The Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer has since demonstrated its quality is on site and, according to Mr Lebreton, has enabled him to save 30 minutes in the treatment of 5.5 hectares of apple trees in comparison to the machine that he used previously.

He has also saved almost 780 liters of water per hectare and, with these results in mind, Mr Lebreton has decided to set himself a goal of achieving a mixture volume per hectare (mixture = water + chemical) of more or less 180 liters per hectare.

He has achieved a saving of 10% per hectare in chemicals during this first season (2010), and he has set himself another goal – specifically, he wants to progressively reduce the quantity per hectare, and thus achieve a 15% saving during his second season (2011), and a 20% saving in his third season (2012).

Mr Lebreton has also been impressed by the extreme ease of use, as well as the long-term precision and reliability of the calibration/volume per hectare adjustment and thus the general usage of the machine – facts that he has noticed for himself.

Finally, he praised the thoroughness of the local CHABAS technical sales team, who supplied the machine as well as professional assistance.

Not bad at all!

These are ambitious goals, but, knowing the Whirlwind B612 Turbo 2 mist sprayer, we have no doubts whatsoever that Mr Lebreton and his workers will successfully achieve these aims.

We have come to meet Mr Philippe Cimetiere, the owner of a farmstead which extends over a total area of 17.5 hectares, including 6 hectares for apple trees, 5 hectares for pear trees, and 0.65 hectares for cherry trees.

He tells us that he is the satisfied owner of a “KWH” Whirlwind B612 TURBO 2 mist blower with a 1,500 L capacity, which he decided to buy it in March 2009, after having first had the opportunity to find out about it and to understand its benefits thanks to the company CHABAS SA (appointed “Martignani-KWH System” distributor for France) during the well-known SIVAL trade fair, which takes place annually in the town of Angers (also in the Loire Valley).

Mr Cimetiere briefly lists the main advantages of using the machine during this first year:

• the volume applied per hectare was approximately 300/500 liters per hectare lower when compared to the traditional machines that he used previously, providing an overall saving of approximately 60,000 litres of water, as well as time savings due to the lower number of refills required.
• chemical product savings of 30% per hectare, especially fungicides.

In terms of the “KWH” Whirlwind B612 TURBO 2 mist blower, Mr Cimetiere tells us simply and kindly that he also appreciates:
- its extreme ease of use
- the long-term precision and reliability of its calibration/adjustments to the application volume per hectare, and thus the general use of the machine.

He expressed a few “constructive” criticisms about the intake filter, which he found difficult to unscrew, and the tank level indicator, in which there is no graduation for the first 300 litres.

We politely pointed out to him that the tank is large because it has a capacity of 1,500 litres, and it would therefore be difficult to have an extremely detailed, precise graduation for the first 300 litres; however, the problem was solved thanks to the addition – UPON REQUEST by the customer – of the optional “graduated level separator kit”, which is mounted on the front of the machine and thus provides excellent visibility from the operating position.

To know more:

EARL LA JONCHERE
138 Route D’Ouvrouer
45110 Sigloy (Orléans) – FRANCE
Tel. +3302.38.58.45.45
E-mail: philippe.cimetiere@wanadoo.fr

Up stream , the woods extend up to 900m above sea level on the Pizzorne sandstone rock. Upstream is the vast plain of Capannori.

We tread the Tuscan land and find ourselves at number 7 di Valgiano street in Valgiano, in the district of Lucca.

Dr. Petrilli tells us that the first meeting with Martignani company was favoured in 1997 from the purchase of a used Martignani-KWH Mist Blower of the Whirlwind B612 600 l trailer version.

Since then, other meetings have taken place leading the Valgiano estate to equip itself, in the following years, with both a trailer and 3P Mounted model .

The Valgiano estate is an organic farm which adopts biodynamic agricultural systems.

Its vineyards lie on a terrace of pebbles and clay in Alberese. The Sangiovese is preferably cultivated along the crest of Alberese due to the soil which allows it to maintain aromaticity as well as a good structure.On the clayey surface Merlot is cultivated due to its ability to maintain delicacy and elegance even on clay; and, on the sandy pebbles of sandstone, only Syrah can give structure as well as fragrance.

All the treatments are carried out on alternate rows (every two rows) and state volumes/ha, during the season, from 100 to 200 l/ha for both fungicide and insecticide treatments.

The entire vineyard surface is covered in about 2 days utilizing both the Mist Blowers, considering that the vineyards are divided into several distant plots and in some cases with considerable slopes.

The Martignani Mist Blowers lend themselves very well to the treatments of the plant as it is indispensable to offer an excellent coverage of the vegetation even in the periods of highest growth in order to guarantee the maximum efficiency of the operation.

Dr. Petrilli tells us lastly that amongst the numerous advantages noted in the last 10 years of use, besides minimal maintenance and assistance, it was possible to ascertain great affordability even during years of adverse weather conditions, thus arriving at harvest with a healthy product, without disease and residual chemicals.

We, ourselves add the fact that we have found traces of the Valgiano Estate in several virtual places, and not only on paper.

• This Book Will Change Your Life by Benrik (Paperback – Oct 28, 2003)
• The Global Encyclopedia of Wine, Updated Edition (includes CD-ROM) by Peter Forrestal (Hardcover – Oct 15, 2001)
• Anthony Dias Blue’s Pocket Guide to Wine 2006 (Anthony Dias Blue’s Guides) by Anthony Dias Blue (Paperback – Sep 20, 2005)
• Central Italy: The Collected Traveler: Tuscany and Umbria by Barrie Kerper (Paperback – Sep 26, 2000)
• Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating: How to Choose the Best Bread, Cheeses, Olive Oil, Pasta, Chocolate, and Much More by Ari Weinzweig (Hardcover – Nov 14, 2003)
• Wine Encyclopedia by Catherine Fallis, James Lawther, Maureen Ashley, and Patrick Farrell (Paperback – Oct 2002)

As for the Internet, only the search engine Googlecertifies and lists the presence of 10,400 pages of its index which deal with the Valgiano estate.

It gives us pleasure to end this brief article with the Valgiano estate’s 2003 chart, taken from an online site ,which is a final explanatory summary.

Vine: Sangiovese 60%, Syrah 20%, Merlot 20%
Denomination: Tenuta di Valgiano
Colour: red
Fragrance: gives an elegant and fine aroma to the nose. Fragrant aromas of mature fruit, hints of spice and minerals and an Intense and persistent bouquet.

Taste: a catchy taste on the palatecombined with a pleasant fruity sweetness. The structure develops with a deep texture of soft, mature tannins which ensure the duration of a delicious and pleasurable after taste.