top of page
Search

29 Sept - Seasons change ...

Writer's picture: Brent EddyBrent Eddy

Updated: Mar 18, 2024

So far, this season could not be more different to 2022. Apart from signs of improving weather, having competent help in the form of a couple of excellent characters has been a real lift. It has meant we are on top of winter work. Not without effort though. It has been blazing secateurs to complete work, with 7 day weeks & early morning cold starts. But with winter pruning & general maintenance (posts, wires, undervine, equipment ...) now done, it feels like a pause to draw breath.

The season has not been without sillyness.


We switch to frost fighting mode &relentless rounds of spraying. Emerging buds/shoots are particularly susceptible to catastrophic damage from frost & disease. Frost fighting essentially entails obsessive weather monitoring to anticipate frost events. With sometimes 10-11 hour shifts in the vineyard til 8am or thereabouts running fans (see below) & sprinklers. Exhausting but also exhilirating. Hopping between 5 vineyards in the middle of the peaceful night, watching the sparkling progression of ice crystals as temperatures drop; then unleashing unholy chaos with wind-machines & Victorian-era water pumps ...

The frost fan. Essentially a vertical helicopter. Powered by a V8 hemi engine! Scary as all hell, as Caroline's distancing shows in this vid.

More sillyness.


Otherwise, a lot happening - Sales & marketing efforts. Beginnings of feedback as our wine travels about (more on this some other time). And materially, we have increased our vineyards under management.


We are taking on a Chardonnay vineyard, which Caroline is particularly excited about. Busy working out the winemaking plan - use of oak, ferment options, whether to pursue butteriness? ... Chardonnay is very much influenced by winemaking choices. If you have any thoughts on styles or examples you like, love to hear from you (we really like Kumeu Vineyards chardonnay - who doesn't?).

I previously signalled that we would help out with a couple of local vineyards who found themselves facing tough choices about keeping their vines or ploughing them up. Being soft of head & heart, we have stepped in to help with a particularly important vineyard, Lansdowne Estate. Lansdowne is located in Masterton on a site very near the original Brancepeth vineyard, the first vineyard in the Wairarapa. Sadly, Brancepeth vineyard was ripped up around 1907, likey due to phylloxera. In any case, the game was up for winegrowing, A prohibition was introduced in Masterton in 1908. This ran to 1946!


Lansdowne was planted by Margaret & Derek Hagar, who surprised the wine world by winning a Gold trophy for their 2010 Pinot Noir at the 2014 IWCS competition. This is reason enough to ensure the vineyard survives. The Hagar story is deeper than this however. The vineyard played a vital role in nurturing the family through a tragic accident affecting their adult son, Derek.

Derek jr sustained lifechanging head injuries while living in the UK. Coming home to the vineyard, Derek threw himself at the job of winegrowing, working with his Mum & Dad. Results followed but more importantly, through his passion for the vineyard, Derek built himself back to comparative health & unequivocal happiness. The two Dereks and Margaret created brilliant memories & I have loved hearing their stories & getting to know the Hagars. (Here's The Gaffer with his cherished pump, schooling me on its operation ahead of frost season).


So, we box on. Not quite knowing how we will manage the escalating work ahead of us. And with no immediate evidence we can triumph over the tussle to make this endeavour something more than a loss-leader! We have proven though, that we can grow & make pretty fine wines. More on this later ...


As at early Oct, we are two months into marketing our wine & mighty grateful for your support. Remember to use your discount codes if buying our wine. And please, accept our blessing to recruit friends, family, strangers on a bus (this has happened! Thanks Josie) ... to Home Fields wine. Kanpai! B&C

School Hols treat. Don't usually have a Tail Gunner in the tractor






107 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page