Harvest 2014 is HERE!!!

Seven Springs Harvest began today!

Riana tells us more :

Today marks the start of the 2014 harvest on Seven Springs Vineyards, and it's our 5th one! We will be kicking this vintage off with the picking of our Pinot noir,   one of  the grape  varieties that thrive   in this area.

From January the grapes have been ripening slowly with the sugar accumulating and the tannins ripening. This season has not been an easy one, with this excess of rain and hot,humid weather. This is not ideal conditions for growing grapes is, but more ideal for growing fungus and diseases. This was the year that quality wine will have been made in the vineyard, with the viticulturists having to be on their best game. Peter, viticulturist for Seven Springs, has kept our grapes in a very healthy condition and so now it's my turn to take the best and make it even better :).

In determining if the sugars have reached optimum, we sample berries and crush them. I then take the juice from the crushed grapes and place it on the refractometer.    It  looks  like a  small telescope,   but it actual enables me to get a sugar reading. 

For the next few weeks the grapes in the valley will be ripening and harvest will kick into swing. The winemakers and viticulturists will be 'disappearing' out of society, but believe me when I say, "it's well worth it".

And with that we wish all winemakers everything of the best for the 2014 Harvest.

Cheers!!