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March 2016

Harvest 2016 (2) - 30 Mar 16

    Domain Road Vineyard - Harvest 2016 (2) - <p></p>
  • Harvest 2016 (2) - <p></p>
  • Harvest 2016 (2) - <p></p>
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A first step to more of our delicious Rosé.  Last Saturday we picked the first of the Pinot Noir from Defiance vineyard destined for the 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé - we were sorry so many of you were disappointed to miss out on getting some of the 2015 vintage - we continue to be surprised and pleased at its popularity.  

Harvest on Defiance continued through Easter and we have now got the Chardonnay and remaining Pinot Noir safely into the winery for Pete to work his magic - the job for Fiona and her team is to deliver Pete the best fruit they can and he has been very pleased with everything so far!  The fruit from Defiance will result in a number of wines specifically from that Vineyard - so in the future you can expect to see a 'Defiance Pinot Noir' and a 'Defiance Chardonnary'.

Thank you Fiona for the photos which show respectively Chardonnay waiting to be picked, bunches in the hand (as Fiona said "small bunches loved by the winemaker - but a nightmare for viticulturists!) and in the bins!  The all important Pinot en route to the winery for the Pinot Noir Rosé.

Posted by: Jennie @ 14:42:57 - View comments (0)   Add a comment   |   Share on Facebook   |   Tweet this

Harvest 2016 - 24 Mar 16

    Domain Road Vineyard - Harvest 2016 - <p></p>
  • Harvest 2016 - <p></p>
  • Harvest 2016 - <p></p>
  • Harvest 2016 - <p></p>
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The sun shone on our first day of harvest for 2016.  The Pinot Gris from Defiance was the lucky first crop this year - coming safely in over the first day and a half of picking.  The fruit looked great and Pete is looking forward to making the second Defiance Pinot Gris - the 2015 vintage was a sell out!!  We have a great team, with people from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Chile.  It is a very busy time for Fiona but as usual it is very satisfying to see the fruition of a hard year's work in the vineyard.  Sadly, Graeme's state of health prevents him, Gillian and Lucy from being here - we miss them - a feeling that is undoubtedly mutual. 

Posted by: Jennie @ 14:05:18 - View comments (0)   Add a comment   |   Share on Facebook   |   Tweet this

March in the vineyard - 6 Mar 16

Domain Road Vineyard - March in the vineyard - <p></p>

Signs of an approaching harvest - Fiona is starting to take samples from around the vineyard so that the people at the winery can monitor the sugar and acid levels of the various grapes.  The bags contain Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir grapes from Defiance vineyard, from the results of the sampling it looks as though we are on track for harvest in late March or early April.  

Also happening this month is the bottling of the 2015 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - both are looking good from the barrel and it will be an exciting time for us when we release our first Chardonnay later in the year.  

Posted by: Jennie @ 13:14:26 - View comments (0)   Add a comment   |   Share on Facebook   |   Tweet this