The fruit is ripening and vintage is almost upon us…the calm before the storm is about to come to an end!
Aaron is back working full-time at Indevin to help out over the next couple of months with all the fruit coming in. Today they had their first lot of Sauvignon Blanc coming into the winery, although it is pretty green and being harvested on the early side for someone wishing to make a low alcohol wine. However, by Easter it is predicted that the Brix (sugar) levels of fruit in local vineyards will see the grape harvest well and truly underway in Marlborough. I’m guessing employers will be hoping they can just skip needing labour on the Easter stats, but it will be touch and go. It would also be nice if the rain stayed away over the next few weeks as everyone could do without rot and a mad rush to get all the fruit in at once.
The anticipation of vintage is a time of mixed feelings: there is a sense of excitement - harvest is the climax of a year’s work and it’s all action 24 hours a day. Winery workers flock into town from all over the world and unite with those in the industry here to get the job done. But as vintage progresses the fatigue, the lack of family time and the stress can take its toll (Aaron will be working 7pm to 7am with no days off for weeks on end).
For now we wait while the sun does the last of the ripening. Many vineyards are netted to keep the birds from feasting on the grapes. With wineries wanting reduced yields I had thought the birds could be great free labour in thinning out the fruit but it’s not quite that simple as half pecked fruit leads to disease problems. I go walking out through the vineyards most days with Archie although the impending harvest has challenged my objectives somewhat! My mission to get Archie to sleep while passing bird bangers is no easy feat and my aim to burn a few kilojoules in the process is un-done by my obligation to taste test the crop. And the grapes do taste good! Archie thinks so too…
“Mmmmm grassy tones …
…definitely too sour yet…
“Right O, I’m done taste testing - let me out of here”
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