News — 2016 RSS

The Grace Farm style of sauvignon blanc semillon (SBS) favours complexity over simplicity by integrating the freshness of stainless steel tank fermentation with the flavour, structure and texture provided by 10% barrel fermentation in new French oak. The style offers the possibility of enjoying the fresh fruit character of each variety when young, and showcases the strength of each in the blend, but it also allows the wine to age beautifully and develop texture as it ages. BUY NOW The 2016 SeasonHot, dry weather in late January was a gift following a 70mm down pour that fell mid-way through the month. The white grapes were beginning to soften as the rain came down and threatened to split the delicate skins....

The photos below show the results of the 65mm of rain we received in January this year. In the first image you can see the incredible regrowth of the vines, with the tips poking through the nets. This occurred in certain patches of deeper soil where the water pooled more.In these areas the bunches of red grapes were shaded by the excessive foliage, as seen in the photo below. It's hard to believe there are any grapes hiding in there at all!As a result, these particular vines have been leaf plucked by hand to ensure even ripening throughout the entire vineyard block, which should result in a more consistent wine. The exposed bunches are shown below.This is winemaking in the vineyard!