Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Start of Vintage 2008
Vintage has now commenced for us here in the Barossa Valley. We started picking yesterday (Jan. 29Th), we already have all of our Sauvinion Blanc and Pinot Noir off and have made a start on our Chardonnay. This has been the second earliest start to our vintage ever, only last year was earlier (Jan 23rd). So far yield looks like we will be getting close to an average crop (last year was 60%-70% below average). It is a little early to comment on quality, however we have had exceptional ripening conditions for the last 3 weeks, so I am hopeful of a very good year. In one (rather long) night we have picked nearly 15% of our vineyard area, now we wait for more to be ready to pick, it is unlikely that we will be picking anything else this week. Very short update for you all - now to bed after nearly 30 hours straight at work.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
This week: 25th. January 2008
Weather Report Week Ending 25/1/08
Maximum Temperature for the week 35.0C (95F) on Fri. 3 reading above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 11.9C (53F) on Mon. 4 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0.6mm (1 point) 2 days of rainfall recorded.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.
Another superb week for ripening grapes here in the Barossa valley this week. The rain recorded this week was nothing more than a couple of misty mornings.
This week in the vineyard:
We will be picking the first of our grapes this coming week. We have been sampling all of our white varieties this week. Most of them are going between 9 and 11 baume. We will be picking all of our Sauvignon Blanc and some of our Chardonnay on this coming Tuesday night. I believe our grapes will continue to accumulate sugar quite quickly while this cooler weather continues. So I think we will probably have more ready to pick early the following week. We have sampled one of our early Shiraz blocks and they are currently at 10.5 baume, we would expect them to gain about 1 baume per week. So if they are to be picked at 14 we could see them ready to pick in 2 – 3 weeks. The photo tonight shows a breakaway group of riders in the Tour Down Under here in the Barossa Valley (when this photo was taken they were more than 6 mins ahead of the main group, they were caught a couple kilometers from the finish).
Maximum Temperature for the week 35.0C (95F) on Fri. 3 reading above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 11.9C (53F) on Mon. 4 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0.6mm (1 point) 2 days of rainfall recorded.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.
Another superb week for ripening grapes here in the Barossa valley this week. The rain recorded this week was nothing more than a couple of misty mornings.
This week in the vineyard:
We will be picking the first of our grapes this coming week. We have been sampling all of our white varieties this week. Most of them are going between 9 and 11 baume. We will be picking all of our Sauvignon Blanc and some of our Chardonnay on this coming Tuesday night. I believe our grapes will continue to accumulate sugar quite quickly while this cooler weather continues. So I think we will probably have more ready to pick early the following week. We have sampled one of our early Shiraz blocks and they are currently at 10.5 baume, we would expect them to gain about 1 baume per week. So if they are to be picked at 14 we could see them ready to pick in 2 – 3 weeks. The photo tonight shows a breakaway group of riders in the Tour Down Under here in the Barossa Valley (when this photo was taken they were more than 6 mins ahead of the main group, they were caught a couple kilometers from the finish).
Sunday, January 13, 2008
This week: 11th. January 2008
Weather Report Week Ending 11/1/08
Maximum Temperature for the week 41.5C (107F) on Thurs. 6 readings above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 11.8C (53F) on Mon. 5 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0.0mm (0 points) 0 days of rain.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.
Yet another week with some very hot days in it, however there have at least been some cooler days to balance things up a bit. Our average max. for January so far is 33.3C (nearly 4.0C above our usual average). No rain recorded again this week, not that we want too much from here into harvest now.
This week in the vineyard:
All fungicide spraying has now been completed. We are now into withholding periods for most varieties. We have had our first blocks tested this week, with most between 6 and 8 Baume. This will mean with ideal ripening conditions we could be harvesting our early whites in a couple of weeks. However more hot weather and the vines could shut down and slow the ripening process. We have now got most of our harvesting equipment ready to go. We are just starting to skirt around the bottom of the vines to make the job for our mechanical harvesting contractor easier. This weeks photo shows part of a Shiraz bunch with almost full colour now.
Maximum Temperature for the week 41.5C (107F) on Thurs. 6 readings above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 11.8C (53F) on Mon. 5 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0.0mm (0 points) 0 days of rain.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.
Yet another week with some very hot days in it, however there have at least been some cooler days to balance things up a bit. Our average max. for January so far is 33.3C (nearly 4.0C above our usual average). No rain recorded again this week, not that we want too much from here into harvest now.
This week in the vineyard:
All fungicide spraying has now been completed. We are now into withholding periods for most varieties. We have had our first blocks tested this week, with most between 6 and 8 Baume. This will mean with ideal ripening conditions we could be harvesting our early whites in a couple of weeks. However more hot weather and the vines could shut down and slow the ripening process. We have now got most of our harvesting equipment ready to go. We are just starting to skirt around the bottom of the vines to make the job for our mechanical harvesting contractor easier. This weeks photo shows part of a Shiraz bunch with almost full colour now.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
This week: 4th. January 2008
Weather Report Week Ending 4/1/08
Maximum Temperature for the week 41.7C (107F) on Mon. All 7 readings above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 12.4C (54F) on Thurs. 6 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0mm (0 points) 0 days of rain.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.
One of the hottest weeks in living memory for us this week. We have not set any new records, however we have just had 6 out of 8 days above 39.0C (101F). The hot weather is not at an end with at least another 2 extremely hot days forecast for this coming week.
This week in the vineyard:
The extremely hot weather of the last week has done some damage to our vineyard, however at this stage it does not to appear to be too bad. The Photos shows some of the damage in Chardonnay (yellow leaves) and Riesling (berry damage). The hot weather has also meant that we have not been able to totally finish the 
last fungicide spray, it will be done first thing next week. Not that we will have any disease issues while this weather continues, this spray is just insurance in case of rain before harvest.
This week will also see our staff come back from their Christmas break, they will be getting ready for harvest (painting bins and getting vehicles ready). The top photo today also shows the first signs of verasion in some of our aged on the vine shiraz.
last fungicide spray, it will be done first thing next week. Not that we will have any disease issues while this weather continues, this spray is just insurance in case of rain before harvest. This week will also see our staff come back from their Christmas break, they will be getting ready for harvest (painting bins and getting vehicles ready). The top photo today also shows the first signs of verasion in some of our aged on the vine shiraz.
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