Budburst mostly occurs in the first week of September and the busy time in the vineyard begins. The sheep are put back in the paddocks before they eye off the tender shoots! They mow and fertilise the vineyard floor! The growing season takes off and by the end of December flowering and fruit set is complete.
Lambs are weaned and off to market. The wool from the winter shearing is sold. The ewes have a quiet restful break… until the rams are let out with them in November.
By the end of spring the hay paddocks are cut down and baled for sheep feed as the pastures dry off over summer.
The wines are either sleeping in oak or being prepared for bottling then left to sleep before their release.
Late March is the end of grape harvest and the vines begin to drop their leaves . Opening rains hopefully arrive and the midrow comes alive with natural vegetation. Under-vine mulching occurs as we continue with our sustainable viticulture practices. All gates are opened and the sheep are allowed back into the vineyard to graze.
Lambing commences in late April, and hopefully onto green grass.
Wine
The wines are put into oak barrels to slowly mature. We wish them a happy long sleep
Property and vineyard maintenance…. Yep back to the bloody list!! Hopefully some time off for a holiday with the kids.
The waiting period begins, monitoring for signs of water stress, and veraison (colour change in berries) begins in late January. Grape sampling for ripeness begins in February as we await vintage to begin.
The rams have hopefully done a great job and the ewes are all pregnant! Rams have the best life.
February and sometimes into March it is all go with grape harvest and wines fermenting. A busy but rewarding time.
Winter
Pruning, pruning and more pruning along with vineyard maintenance and hopefully good rains!
Our cross bred lambs are growing fast & lamb marking carried out over two months. At the end of winter it is Shearing time for the ewes.
General
Cellar Door Maintenance, Building projects, Vineyard maintenance.. The tasks- to- do list keeps getting longer!