What's On:
Vineyard Report and Potential Picking Dates
This season has been one great challenge! Following a lovely wet spring and relatively early budburst things came to a grinding halt with a cold snap in November which retarded further development including putting back flowering to mid-December, a full month later than the year before.
A warm, but not hot summer allowed things to progress satisfactorily, but without any catch-up for lost time. Consequently we are now expecting to harvest around Easter at the earliest, Anzac Day probably for the Pinot and Chardonnay. Riesling and Semillon will follow approximately 10 days later.
The crop looks great. Good quantity and good quality thanks to the absence of European wasps, so far anyway. If we were to pick the Chardonnay today it would make a wine with about 11% alcohol. We won’t pick it today as we would like to target around 12.5% or better and subject to weather this will take about another 3 to 4 weeks. The nets are on so the grapes are 'bird-proof' to a certain degree. We want no more rain, hail or cold!
So stand by for a call (email) for the Easter weekend of 15th April or the Anzac weekend of 23-24 April.
Pizza of the Month, and we need your suggestions
Finally! We are introducing some additions to the food we serve here at the winery. I think I hear a big sigh of relief out there and a few cheers too! First, a Pizza of the Month. As it implies, this will be a changing pizza. We have some ideas and we’ve been pinching pizza menus from various places but if you have a really, really good, favourite pizza, let us know. There are forms on our tables and on the information table at the entrance for ideas. You can also just email us your ideas too. Who knows what glory you will get if your suggested pizza is once chosen for the ‘Pizza of the Month’? Fame and fortune no doubt!
Our Facebook Page - a fountain of information!
Our Facebook Page has really come to life now that Caroline has taken custody of it! We hope you are following it as our newsletters are few and far between and there are always updates on what is happening at the winery on Facebook. If not, click here to view the page and click on ‘Follow’. We’re also on Instagram with some great photos we’ve taken and some that our guests have taken and shared with us. How about you taking a photo, share it with us and it might get on the Instagram page. We love to share your photographic memories.
2014 Pinot Noir 'Limited Edition - a beauty!
This is one of our best since our 2003 Award Winning, drought affected releases of our Pinot Noir. Big, bold, yet still silky. Red and black cherries along side plums on the palate and nose. The spice is still there, even a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. We have labelled it 'Limited Edition' because it is. There is not a large quantity so get yours now.
'The Traveller' Wine Glass
EVERY GIRL SHOULD HAVE ONE!
This acrylic wine glass is perfect and has so many benefits! Such as:
- Keeps your wine chilled, or at pouring temperature (although you cannot open it to put wine in the outside bit - it would be a good feature though).
- Has a lid like a coffee cup for drinking - avoid those messy wine spills
- Great for outdoors! Stops flys and wasps from sharing your wine.
- Perfect for boats.
- Almost unbreakable acrylic. I don't put mine in the dishwasher as some dishwashers put 'cracks' in the acrylic.
You can now order online. Only $19.95 each and very light to post to you. Postage is extra and we will call you for approval to charge your freight costs. OR, pick them up in cellar door. We have sourced these from the USA and have limited stock, so if you want one or two or three as gifts, or for yourself, get in quick! Call us to hold some for you on 5428 2228.
They come in this purple colour or black. Specify which colour on the checkout instructions (delivery instructions) on the mail order form, or just give us a call.
Two new wines: Rose 2015 and Sparkling Pinot - Finally!
Rosé 2015 – an absolutely stunning wine. Perfect for this summer. It’s elegant, it’s delicate, it’s a rose-gold colour and it’s a light strawberry palate with a dry finish. What more do you want in a Rosé? A good price, and it is at $28.00 a bottle. Come and get yours for this summer. Rosé is making a BIG comeback and it is truly the wine of the season.
Speaking of Season’s, we are taking delivery of 38 dozen of our Sparkling Pinot Noir – finally. In time for Christmas too. So I can say to all of you who keep asking me about it – YES, it will be here by 1st December. It is an estate grown wine so it will be under the Gisborne Peak Winery label and we can’t wait to try it ourselves. Sparkling Pinot – a long time in the making! There is more of it to come but we are leaving it on its lees for a little longer. 38 dozen will have to do until around March 2016.
