Learn our story and taste our wines on a hot summer's day

Hi folks

Another Christmas has come and gone, and we hope everyone had a very safe and festive time with family and friends.

My family and I headed to Broulee, south of Batemans Bay, the week before Christmas. We spent seven days surfing, fishing, snorkeling (we saw an eight foot woebegone shark) and just relaxing around the beach. The biggest fish caught over the week was a 450mm 2kg snapper, which we baked and had on Christmas Eve.

Back in Rutherglen the weather is heating up, and by New Years day the weatherman is saying the temperature could hit 40 degrees. The vines look very healthy with some of the fruit just starting to go into veraison (berry ripening). We envisage harvest will begin in early February with our Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat for Moscato. 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.

Our sales through the Cellar Door over the Christmas period have been good! The front of house team at Cellar Door – Robyn, Ann, Tammie, Melinda, Sheree, Hannah and Bernard – have  enjoyed telling our story and sharing  our wines with  the many local, interstate and overseas visitors who have come through the doors. We look forward to continuing to meet these visitors throughout the January holiday period.

I hope that everyone has a great New Years celebration. January is a fantastic time of the year in Australia – 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 2012.

Regards Phil Chamberlain

CEO, Rutherglen Estates