Never ask me when we’re going to start picking
Every year people ask “how’s it going back on the farm?” and “how’s it look in the vineyard this year”.
I always fall for it. I try my best. I try to estimate when we will start picking. Because the weather always looks different, every season, every year. I try to estimate how it will affect the new crop. This year winter hung around longer. At least so I thought. And spring was cool. And we didn’t have the December or January heat wave that often comes with a bang. “Harvesting will be at least two weeks late this year”. That was me on December 23. Two weeks later the red grapes had mostly turned colour (from green to red) the way they do around then. “We’ll probably be around one week later than usual this year”. That was me on January 20.
This was this morning’s picture. Picking the first grapes of 2009. You can see our team in the Guava Pinotage block, just after sunrise today. Tractor in the background, ready to take the grapes to the cellar. Once again it was in the first week of February, which is when we pick this block of vines every year. This time it was Friday.
So much for my predictions. And all of that cool spring and summer stuff. See if I remember next year.
Guava? Pinotage? Grapes?
Huh? I’m certain there is an interesting story here.
Being a wine dunce, would you explain how guavas get to be involved with wine grapes & Pinotage and why.
Thanks
Robert
Your vineyard is beatufill. Thanks for the pics
When Diane and I came to Stormhoek in 1998, one hectare of guava trees was growing on the lower, north-facing slopes of the property.
We had no idea what we could do with 500 guava trees so we turned them into firewood and planted a small block of Pinotage in their place.
Ever since, when one of the team says he is going to do some work on this part of the farm, he says he is going to the Guava block.
When we bottled the first Pinotage made only from these grapes, we labelled it as the Guava Pinotage. The name has really caught on.
I opened a bottle of the Guava 2004 Pinotage tonight.
Fan bloody Tastic!!
Delicious fruit, perfect wine. Many thanks!!
Nice picture and I’m sure it must be hard not to “guess” on when you’re gonna goto harvest. Mainly because you probably can’t wait to harvest and start the process.
A friend of ours here in the states had a bottle of your wine, which was very good! So, I looked you up online to let you know.
Very interesting site.