Hi folks
Another Christmas has come and gone, and I hope everyone had a very safe and festive time with family and friends. My family and I headed to the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney and spent five glorious days floating around on a houseboat – fishing, reading, eating, and of course drinking fine wine … plus the odd beer. The largest fish caught was a 58cm flathead, not by me, but our son Mark.
When we drove back onto the vineyard, we couldn’t get over how well the vines are looking! The canopy is very healthy with the fruit going through véraison (the ripening process). We envisage we will begin harvesting with our Sauvignon Blanc in approximately the last week of January. The harvesting equipment and winery machinery have all had their preventative maintenance programs completed in preparation for what we hope to be a very good vintage … bring it on!
Our sales through the Cellar Door over the Christmas period have been good. The team has enjoyed telling our story and tasting our wines to the many local, interstate and overseas visitors that have come through the doors. We hope this continues throughout the January holiday period, and pray that some cooler wet weather entices more people away from their normal summer water pursuits to our Cellar Door.
I hope that everyone has a great New Years celebration. January is a fantastic time of the year in Australia – and we hope you all enjoy a summer filled with barbecues, swimming, family, friends, good food and great Rutherglen Estates wine!
Keep safe and I will speak to you in 2010.
Regards Phil
and the team from Rutherglen Estates and RE Vineyards
