Things are starting to heat up out in the vineyard… both figuratively and literally!
Not only are we finally getting the summer we were promised, but we’re beginning to see the signs of the final growth stage for the vines this vintage.
This is what I’m talking about…
According to last week’s CropWatch report, earliest varieties were at growth stage E-L 35.
And thanks to our helpful little growth stage guide, we know that E-L 35 marks the beginning of something called “Veraison”.
I promise to explain this (again, for some of you) last week, so here goes…
Veraison
Pronounced verr-ray-zon. It is very much the turning point in a vine’s annual lifecycle. At this stage, the vine changes its focus from energy creation (via photosynthesis) to energy consumption.
Veraison is specifically defined as the stage at which three simultaneous but separate processes begin…
1. Each berry softens as the cells within the grapes begin to produce more juice and the skin becomes thinner.
2. Sugar starts to accumulate and acidity of the grape starts dropping away.
3. Colour starts to change – from green to red in red varieties and from green to translucent in white varieties.
Before veraison begins, the berries are still very small, hard, acidic and green (due to the presence of chlorophyll).
At E-L stage 35, the vine starts to move its energy stores from the roots and leaves into the berries. The chlorophyll is converted to anthocyanins (in red varieties) or carotenoids (in white varieties), sugars and other compounds. Many of these compounds are the precursors to the flavours and aromas which we can taste in the resulting wine.
Following the onset of veraison, the ripening process then takes anywhere from 30–70 days for the grapes to become fully ready to make wine. The grapes still have a lot of growing up to do during that time. In fact, each berry will double in size between now and when they are picked.
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2024 Harvest predictions
But now that veraison has started, we (and by “we”, I mean people better at these things than me!) can start making predictions about when harvest will begin.
And those smart people will be looking at data like this pretty closely over the coming weeks…
Without getting too bogged down…
- the red bits show when veraison (or E-L 35) started in the early varieties (things like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot), and
- the yellow bits show when veraison started in the later ripening varieties
So, basically all this graph is saying is that timing is up there with vintage 2016 and 2018 (which we know were super “early” vintages) and a good 4 weeks ahead of last season.
And if you assume vintage continues is a relatively uneventful fashion (fingers crossed) then we’re likely to be harvesting fruit 3-4 weeks earlier than we were last year.
Watch this space in late Feb/early March!
TIME FOR ANOTHER CLUB PARTY?
We’ve come up with a new way of figuring out when to thrown club parties this year…
When you tell us to!
This weekend we’re hosting our first Club Room and Courtyard Party for 2024 because we have some lovely members visiting from Brisbane and they wanted to come to one!
We’re doing the same in March!
So, make sure you let us know if you’re visiting from interstate or country SA and we’ll use it as a fabulous excuse to schedule a party!
This time around we’re celebrating our cracking new tempranillo LDR (Light Dry Red).
THIS WEEKEND – SUNDAY 28 JAN
12 – 1:30pm
Chilled fresh oysters with limes on arrival
Medium rare charcoal sirloin slices with condiments, crusty bread and locally churned butter
Waffle cones with Lucy’s selection of housemade ice creams
– Heather & Rob there with bells on (still no stopping them)
– brand new shiny boxes of delicious, just-bottled, just-released LDR (Light Dry Red) going out at a very surprising (read: temporarily very low) price
– Alternatives for non-oyster, non-meat and non-dairy eaters (let us know if you are one!!)
– Lovely Club fun with the Moody family in our beautiful space
$54pp includes beautiful, bottomless buffet and a glorious Somerled Open Bar
If you haven’t already got your tickets, do so as a matter of urgency by sending me an email. We only have a handful of tickets left!
Notes on the brand new 2023 LDR Light Dry Red (thanks, Rob!):
The spellbinding bright purple hues of young Tempranillo!!!
The nose has a wonderful kaleidoscope of savoury red, blue and black fruits –
On the palate…a seriously juicy mid palate, but not sweet.
Soft, round, delicate with very soft, savoury tannins and a fresh finish that’s just beautifully woven in.
Can be (and often is) served chilled or below cellar temp.
Show us the charred meat and salads!