Petites façons in the vineyard: what we do and when

At Château Canon Chaigneau, we believe that great wine is made in the vineyard.
But behind that romantic idea are weeks of hard, precise, and often invisible work, what we call in French the petites façons.

These “little tasks” aren’t flashy, but they shape the health of the vines, the balance of the grapes, and ultimately, the style of every bottle we produce.

Let’s take you behind the scenes.

What are "petites façons"?

Petites façons are the fine-tuning jobs done by hand throughout the growing season.
They include:

Ébourgeonnage (bud removal) – In spring, we remove excess buds to concentrate the vine’s energy on the best shoots.

Épamprage (sucker removal) – We clean off shoots that grow on the lower trunk, which waste sap and clutter airflow.

Relevage (lifting) – As shoots grow, we lift and tie them between wires, keeping the rows tidy and the grapes exposed.

Éffeuillage (leaf thinning) – In early summer, we may selectively remove some leaves around the grape bunches to improve sun and air exposure — but only when needed, as some vintages are sunny enough already.

Vendanges en vert (green harvesting, sometimes) – In certain years, we reduce grape clusters to ensure better ripeness.

When and why we do it

These tasks happen mainly from April to July, during the most delicate stages of the vine’s life:

• Before flowering: focusing growth.

• After fruit set: balancing the load.

• Before veraison (when grapes turn color): optimizing ripeness.

Skipping petites façons can mean overcropped, underripe, or disease-prone grapes.
Doing them right gives us healthy, balanced, and expressive fruit: the base of everything.

Who does the work?

At Canon Chaigneau, these jobs are still done by hand, vine by vine.

Led by Louis, our chef de culture (and previous owner), Christophe, vineyard and winery manager, and with the input of Thierry Garnaud, our winemaker (ex-Cheval Blanc), the team brings decades of experience, local knowledge, and meticulous care.

This is where artisanal winemaking lives, not just in the cellar, but in the quiet hands shaping the vineyard each morning.

Why it matters to you

You might not see petites façons when you open a bottle.
But you taste them.

In the freshness of our Cuve 8a.
In the balance of our Grand Vin.
In the delicate aromatics of our Le Blanc and Le Rosé (selected with care from a partner estate)

They are the reason we can work with minimal intervention in the cellar, because the precision has already happened in the vineyard.

Next time you sip…

…remember the quiet work behind it:

• The early mornings.

• The careful choices.

• The humble gestures that make wine not just a product, but a craft.

Want to experience it yourself?
Our Discovery Case is the perfect way to taste the difference.