OATLEY VINEBLOG
OATLEY VINEBLOG
So lucky! A stormy October and we were on tenterhooks about whether these late-ripening grapes would survive. But we needn’t have worried, they were in beautiful condition on the day, Sunday 27th. The morning dawned blustery after a wet night, but a good drying wind for the grapes and sunny most of the morning.
It was a short break in the weather but a big, cheerful crew got the grapes in and loaded, dry, in record time, by noon, not long before the forecast showers started up. The tent stood up in the wind so we could eat outside and Jane managed to get the 5-course meal out in time for the early finish. (And it went pretty well, though I says it meself as ‘adn’t oughta - J). The big storm that night left only a minor trail of damage here, we were under the eye of the storm so didn’t get the worst of it. The tarpaulin covering the grapes filled with water but didn’t leak, no trees down on the route. We and the guys at the winery were all there on time next morning despite tales of mayhem on the radio.
3 tons off an acre and a half of Kernling - only slightly below usual despite last year’s cold summer when the flower buds were forming. This year’s hot fruit set pretty much made up for it. An early powdery mildew scare was overcome without damage to the fruit and there was amazingly little rot, given the wet autumn weather.
Sugar in the free-run juice measured a respectable 70 Oe - probably be a bit higher after pressing. Pleased with that in this late season of low sugars.
Many thanks to all who helped - we couldn’t do it without you! And well done to our 28-year-old vines for their quarter-century of vintages.
Full set of photos in our Gallery, here>>
Kernling Harvest 2013
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Great grapes despite the stormy October weather. Picked the day before the Big Storm by a big crew in a short, dry and warm but windy break in the rain. Tent stood up, meal went well. Lovely day, thanks to all. Storm didn’t cause any real probs. Grape juice safely in the tank!