This summer has shown many different faces with a long cool beginning, a fierce fiery middle and now a more predictable balmy ending.

With some of the hazy smoke filled days following black Saturday (7th February, 2009), we’re now concerned with the effect the smoke may have made to the vines. But so far there doesn’t seem to be a concern as recent testing does not show any taint in initial juice samples. We’re very lucky in our location as we are just north of the McHarg Ranges which provides a fairly regular mountain breeze each morning and evening, thus blowing away most smoke. Down below in Heathcote though, they’re not so lucky.

Another concern is heat stress... Many of the vineyards are dropping fruit because the plants are shutting down and losing their canopies. So far, we’ve managed fairly well, but I’m concerned that I may have over gambled when I allowed our vines to carry too much fruit. They’re looking good at the moment as veraison has set in and are carrying about 9% sugar.

Welcome to the site. I’m just learning about website creation and made this one on an Apple Computer using Rapidweaver (a really great product, but is taking me some time to get acquainted with). The theme is called ‘Catalog’ and is from seyDoggy. I think it’s starting to look fairly polished, but there will probably be many changes to come over the ensuing years.

Cheers, Bernhard de Kok