As a result we started picking a week early and even picked some Chardonnay in September. Yields were high across every grape variety and sugar levels were very acceptable. Unlike 2003 when the grapes ripened too fast, this year the flavours were able to develop along with the acidity levels dropping, so we have been able to harvest grapes close to exactly where we want them.
By mid October the weather turned colder and a bit wetter, but there was almost no mildew and the starlings stayed away, so we got on with picking and kept the fruit in good condition.
Some statistics:
total crop was 37.6 tonnes, averaging 2.07 tonnes per acre
ripest grapes: Pinot Noir at 89 oeschle
least ripe grapes: Auxerrois at 60 oeschle
finished picking 20th October
We will be making our Horsmonden dry white wine, a Limney Estate sparkling wine and a Diamond Fields Pinot Noir red wine this year (in great demand last time we made it in 2010). We are also planning a sparkling Rose as a new wine for release in a couple of years. All the wines are fermented separately and we will decide final blends after Christmas, so we may also decide to produce some small volume single grape variety wines if there is anything that stands out as outstanding quality on its own.
Many thanks to our absolutely great team of pickers this year. We hope all have enjoyed themselves and it has certainly made our lives easier knowing that we have their support and enthusiasm. Also many thanks for the hard work of our own vineyard and winery team (Phil, Matt, Marcus, Ben and Ian), who have put in early mornings, late nights and heaved 37 tonnes of grapes out of the vineyard and into the press.
The picture below shows some of the picking team on one of the few days when picking had to be stopped for rain - all smiling, maybe because we had decided to stop picking a few minutes earlier!
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| 2014 grape harvest at Limney |
