Seasons
Spring
Budburst is happening and the vineyard is coming to life after being dormant through the cold winter months. Andrew is busy making sure no bugs or diseases infect the vines so they can stay healthy and produce lots of wonderful fruit to turn into wine. He also watches the weather so he can get out in the vineyard at the crack of dawn (or earlier) to prevent any frost damage if needs be. In the winery, Damien and David are finishing the light bodied white wines, ready for bottling and release soon.
Summer
Warm weather and lots of sunshine ensure the grapes are ripening well. Andrew continues his anti-bug and disease program and checks how the fruit is ripening in readiness for harvest. At least there’s no real threat of frosts now, but irrigating the vines is important to ensure the vines can produce their wonderful flavours that transfer to wine. Damien and David continue their winemaking and prepare for vintage.
Autumn
It’s harvest time and all hands are on deck. The grapes are ripe and full of flavour. It’s late nights and early mornings for both the vineyard and the winery as the grapes are harvested from very early in the morning to late at night to ensure they remain cool and prevent oxidation between the vineyard and the winery. It’s six weeks of go, go, go with lots of work and weight loss and little sleep for those working around the clock. It’s all worth it in the end though, as you get to enjoy the fruits of all that labour.
Winter
Pruning in the cold is not much fun, but it has to be done. After the hectic days of vintage, Andrew and his crew don’t get time to sit and relax. The vines need their annual haircut so they can produce quality fruit for the wine next vintage and make picking easier. In the winery, Damien and David are busy winemaking—ensuring they get the best possible value for money, distinctive varietal, high quality wines.