Who would be a grape grower at this time of the year!
After 5 months of hard slog tending the vineyard, pruning, spraying, slashing and loving care we are experiencing some diabolical wet weather. Not only do the grapes get disease from the damp conditions, the lack of sunshine stops them ripening fully. People often refer to the grape leaves as "sugar factories", and it's the sugar, baume level, that determines the picking time and alcoholic content of the wine. Baume is God to the winemakers, so we struggle like crazy in the Hunter with the wet weather and lack of sunshine at this time of the year.
We picked our Semillon on Friday, it was the best crop we've had in 10 years here. Great size bunches and the wet has not had quite the effect on the Semillon as it does not need as much baume as the Chardonnay and Shiraz. Anything from 10 - 12 will do. Very little disease, and some pretty impressive stats. Best of the best.
The Chardonnay is a different story - sitting on 12 baume at the moment we're hoping for at least another 1/2 degree before we're due to pick on Friday. We'll hand pick again, this time to pick the better fruit from the diseased bunches that have developed in the wet. Shot below is of a badly diseased bunch, Botrytis and rot, the following picture a perfect example of healthy fruit.
Raining again this morning! Not sure now what shape we'll be in for Friday!
How frustrating!
What a country and people! We celebrate a day when we settled a large and inhospitable "Southern land". Miles from anywhere, ships laden with convicts - many of whom had done not much more than steal a loaf of bread to subsist in a grimey and poverty stricken mother land! But they conquered the challenges, and prospered into a cheeky and successful country that punches far above its weight. A multicultural people benefitting from a richness and diversity of ancestral character into a real melting pot of nationalities.
Like many Aussies I celebrate today the contribution many of my ancestors have made to our great country, whether they be Governors or gatekeepers they have contributed their bit. I hope in my small way I can do the same.
We started the New year with a bang! Fireworks in Sydney and a very pleasant party in Rose Bay on the foreshore to celebrate. Only problem was getting back to Rushcutters Bay at two o'clock! Buses full, no cabs - only choice was to walk it. Still, a generous priming and an hour later we were home - made lots of New Year friends along the way who may or may not remember the occasion!
New Years day saw us on the harbour for a pleasant sail - a brisk breeze, not too much drama with only the headsail up and a sobering blast of fresh air.
What a way to start the year!
Is there a better harbour in the world?
We have traditionally had Christmas at our home with an extended family of both our clans. This year though we decided to break the large (24+) group up and just have a gathering for our immediate family and their families - 16 in total.
Amy and her lot are in Wagga Wagga midway for us in Sydney and Phils mob in Melbourne. We managed to secure a second home for some of the gang and had good accommodation for us all. As usual, great food and lots of fun, including the now traditional Pinata with the obligatory scramble for the scattered sweets as they got belted into oblivion!! Great fun for young and old.
Father Christmas came of course - we had all been good last year!
BUT, we also had a visit from "Supergirl" who was speeding so fast she was just a blurrrrr !!
Festivities were over far too fast and we all departed to our homes for some peace and much needed diets and exercise.
