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Hi All…
Well, the festive season is now over, holidays done (great Malbecs in Mendoza) and it’s back to the daily grind.
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down in the vineyard…
Our Verdelho was harvested 2 weeks earlier due to the warmer weather. It was a celebratory pick and backpackers Marie-Pier Savard and Thomas La Montagne (pictured) enjoyed the wine and cheese lunch afterwards.
The quality was great and prospects are high for another quality wine. The Pinotage is looking great and will be harvested soon.
We had to bunch thin the Pinotage in November as it threw a big crop which was much too big for the young vines. I am only expecting enough for 1 barrel for the first year.
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the wines…
Exciting times here as the first crush was celebrated this week.
The Verdelho came in at a Be of 12.8 which is ideal for a lovely fruit driven style.
It was the first vintage to be processed in our state of the art, 50 ton, new winery. Pictured ~ the first bin being tipped.
You can follow our vintage day by day by becoming a friend of RAVENS CROFT WINES on facebook.
I will email you details shortly.
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on the estate…
To celebrate the opening of the new winery we had a 7 course degustation dinner on the 6th Feb, matched by our wines including some old favorites – the 05 Petit Verdot and the 02 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
It was a great night with food and wines matched perfectly.
Sarah and Dave Hume on the guitars were a hit with everyone dancing the evening away between courses.
I will also be starting, from 13th March, a personalized vineyard and winery tour every second Saturday of the month.
A group (4 to 12 persons only) will be walked through the vineyard and explained the current vineyard practices.
We will then do a tasting in the vineyard (weather permitting) and proceed to the winery where I will explain the winemaking procedure. This will be followed by an antipasto lunch with wine. Cost is $50 all inclusive including souvenir glass. Bookings only.
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wildlife…
Blinky had to be captured a couple of months ago to be treated for an eye infection by local registed carers. That’s him going off to “hospital”.
While in treatment we found out a little about him. He is a fully grown adult male about 8 years old (from his teeth) and weighs all of 10kg. We let him go back near his favorite tree and his eyes are looking alot better. He still comes and goes and it’s great when he graces us with his presence.
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Ah, fill the Cup: -- what boots it to repeat
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:
Unborn To-morrow, and dead Yesterday,
Why fret about them if To-day be sweet!
Omar Kahyamm |
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Finally I would like to thank ICP Craftpress for designing this beautiful website. If any of you who have made the "Highlands Change", need websites or printing etc – the ICP Craftpress team are the ones to contact.
All the best till next time
Cheers in wine…
Mark
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