昨日今日と夏の陽気だった。
昼過ぎ温度は30度を越えたようだ。
昨日はそんな中、ナガノパープルの
目ぞろい会。出荷前に、出荷してよい
もの駄目なもの、出荷形態などの
説明が行われた。熱心な生産者。
長野県に産地が限定され、しかも
その7割がここ須高地域から出荷され
る。とはいえ、当地の葡萄の生産量の
8％にも満たない量しか生産
されていないのだからまだまだ
貴重品だ。

巨峰もようやく色が乗ってきた。
酸がもう少し抜けると出荷できそう。
鳥たちも味が良くなってきたのを
わかっているようだ。

It was hot like summer yesterday and
today. The tempearture went up over
30degree C afternoon. There held a
pre-shipment meeting of Nagano Purple
grapes yesterday afternnon. In addition to
the explanation of the current situation
about the grape in the region, good and
bad examples were shown and the packaging
of the produce was explained. We have
about 70% of the production in this
region of all Nagano Purple of which producution
is limited only to whithin Nagano Prefecture.

There seem so many growers but Nagano Purple
occupies not more than 8% of all the grape
production in this region which means the
grape is still precious.

On the other hand, Kyoho grapes are
becoming darker now. With further
reduction of acidity in the berry, I can
start harvest Kyoho. It seems that the birds
have noticed the grapes are getting tastier
everyday.

昨日は須坂市内で
菅原文太さんの講演会が
あった様だが、私は峰の原高原に
いた。秋の七草ウォークという
催しがあったのだ。

冬には雪の積もった高原を
テレマークスキーで歩くのだが
雪の積もる前の姿も見ておきたかった。

頂上を目指す山歩きと違い
山野草を見ながら、説明を聞きながら
の高原歩きで、一つ一つの草花に
興味を示す詳しい参加者がほとんどで
素人の私には、まるで豚に真珠
の様なものだった。

書き留めた草木や花の名前が
30ほどになったろうか。
生態系の微妙なバランスや
高原での風力発電等の
大規模開発の及ぼす影響についても
話が及んで、興味深かった。

これで、夏と冬だけでなく
春と秋の高原の魅力も少しは
知ることができた。

There was a lecture delivered
by a famous actor Bunta Sugawara
in Suzaka but I was in Minenohara
Kogen Highland to participate in the
highland walk event watching natural
flowers.

I wanted to see how the highland
looked like before the snowfall
would cover everything underneath.

Different from the mountain walk to
the peak, it was a kind of hi-king
to see the native autumn flowers
and trees. Most of the participants
were lovers of natural flowers and
were very knowldgeable showing
keen interest in each flower and
explanation. I was as if an outsider
in such enthusiastic people.
In Japases saying, we call it
'a pearl for a pig.'

Even though I wrote down about thirty
names of flowers and trees and I was
interested in the explanation of the
ecological balance in the mountain
and the influence of a big scale
development in such an environment
like wind farm development.

Now I have experience not only
the beauty of summer and winter of Minenohara
Kogen highland but also pretty and precisou
sceneries of spring
and autumn of the highland.

ワイン葡萄を植えて今年で
6年目。当初は3年したらワイナリー
を建てようと考えていた。
3年目になり葡萄ができるように
なったら、まだワインにも
ならないうちは無理かな
と思い延期。ワインになったら
美味しいと認められないと
無理かなと思い延期。

最近美味しいワインができるように
なってきて、高品質の葡萄の栽培も
それなりに見通しが立ってきた
ように思う。ワイン葡萄の畑は
2ヘクタールになった。
そろそろかな。

設立に当っては
土地の問題（適当な場所が
あるかどうか、や都市計画法
等の規制）や資金の問題等が
あるが、思った形に
近いものができればと
思う。

Six years are going to pass since I first
planted winegrape vines here. At the
beginning, I thought I would establish
winery in three years but the plan was
put off after three years as I thought
that my grape was not made into
wine yet then. When the wine was bottled,
I thought I should wait until my wines
would get reputation and the plan was
put off again.

Recently I have come to think that
my grapes are making good wines and
that I am getting sure to make
high quality grapes. The vineyard
size now is 2 ha in total. As such,
I think the time is getting ripe.

There are such barriers as the land
(suitability for winery, the
related regulations like City Development
Plan, etc.,) ,the financing and so on of
course. However I wish to make a winery
in a site and a form closer to what I think
right.

一箇所だけ防鳥ネットを張ってない
畑があって（今年初収穫の大谷の
畑）、近くで作業をしていると
なにやら鳥が畝間を飛び廻っている。
近づくと一応警戒してはいるが、
すぐ近くのぶどうの樹に止まったりする。
良く見るとぶどうの粒を嘴に
くわえている。

そのうちの一羽が、近づいても逃げずに
ぶどうの樹につかまっている。
1メートルほどのところから写真を
撮ったのだが、ぼけている。
ベト病のせいで茶色になった葉っぱが
写って恥ずかしいのだがしょうがない。

更に近づくと、ようやく何とか
飛び立った。なにやら危なっかしい
飛び方。羽ばたきも力不足。直ぐに
近くの小屋の屋根に何とか着陸。

どうもまだ成長していない子供
の鳥だったようだ。飛ぶ訓練と
食糧を取る訓練を受けていたようだ。
大分成績は良くなさそうで。
落第に近い。

鳥が食べるくらいだからと
ソーヴィニオン・ブランの粒を口に
運ぶ。大分糖度が上がってきている。
盆以降好天が続いていることもあり、
なにやら期待が膨らむ。

I have one vineyard without bird net
which is the one at Oya expecting
first harvest this year. I noticed
birds were flying between the rows
while I was working nearby hut.

When I approched to them, they became
cautious but still a few flew to the
vines near me. I watched them and found
that they had berry in their bill.

One of them did not fly away even though
I got close to it. I took a photograph
from one meter away which is a bit blur.
I am ashamed to show the brown leaves due
to the downy mildew.

I stepped closer and finally it flew away
from the vine but it was not a good flight
almost falling on the ground. The fluttering
was not strong enough and the bird somehow
landed on the roof of nearby hut.

It must be a baby bird and having
flight and hunting trainning from its
parents. It must not have A or B but
all C almost failing the test.

As the birds ate my grapes, I tried a
berry of sauvignon blanc. It was sweet
and tasty. Because of the berry condition
and the good weather since Obon Festival,
I had great expectation on the crops this
year which I know is too early to expect.

Grapegrowing Seminar of new cultivars.

今日午後から果樹試験場
にてナガノパープルと
シャインマスカットの
生産技術研修会があった。

ここ数年春と秋に行われて
いるが今回は400人以上は
参加していると見られる。
毎回参加者が増えている感じ。
皆さん熱心です。

話のそこここに葡萄栽培の
ポイントが散りばめられていて
ワイン葡萄の栽培にも
当てはまるヒントが多い
と感じています。

私もナガノパープルは今年から
出荷を初めます。シャインは
もう少し先になりそうです。

There held a seminar at the
Reaserch Lab. of Fruit in
Suzaka about the grapegrowing of
Nagano Purple
and Shine Muskat grapes both of
which are new table grape cultivars in
the market.

Seminars have been held twice a
year in recent years and more and
more enthusiastic growers seem to
participate especially this time
there were over 400 attendants.

I think that there are so many
precious clues about the growing
of these varieties and many hints
were given which can be referred to
the winegrape growing.

I will be shipping Nagano Purple
from this year and a few more
years to go for Shine Muskat.