The Pool Room now open at Oak Valley

Iona's One Man Band blind tasted by two renowned sommeliers

New winemaker at Highlands Road Wine Estate

Elgin Vintners The Century achieves Diamond

Harvest report from Paul Wallace, Viticulturist

By the time you read this the Elgin harvest will be well under way. Most of the Valley's Pinot Noir has already been harvested and our Sauvignon Blanc harvest will begin in earnest on the 21st February and depending on the site and aspect of the vineyard will continue over the next two weeks.

The scorching heat wave in January meant some of the younger vineyards suffered a degree of sunburn, as did the young apple trees. However the winemakers seem ecstatic with the quality of the Pinot Noir grapes received into their cellars. Some Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are showing some early signs of rot but by in large, all augurs well for a fantastic harvest.

The Chardonnay, Viognier and Merlot grapes are ripening according to schedule with estimated date of harvest being very similar to that of last year. Our cool evenings provide the grape with welcome respite from the summer heat. The picking teams will be in the vineyards picking from first light as we all try avoid delivering hot, stressed grapes to the winemakers. The last grapes of the season to be harvested will be the Cabernet Sauvignon, which will ripen in the cool of autumn and only reach our cellars sometime in April.
 

Dr Richard Smart, the world- acclaimed viticulturist from Australia and the man largely responsible for the Smart-Dyson trellis system employed in some of the more vigorous vineyards belonging to Elgin Vintners, inspects and discusses the Malbec vineyards on Wallovale Vineyards, together with Paul Wallace.