By Luke Tyler
The 130 year old basket presses are getting a real work out
The cellar crew are busier than a one armed window washer after a sand storm. We have received almost half of the grapes we will process this year, with more expected over the weekend, starting with Adelaide Hills Pinot tonight. The cellar are averaging 15 foot treads a day, however this will be significantly expanded to 160 a day when all of the pinot arrives as it requires special attention. If you see a tanned Australian, South African or Kiwi walking around with purple hands and thighs the size of tree trunks, chances are he did a vintage at d’Arenberg in 2010.
d’Arenberg by night, vintage requires 24 hour shifts
While there is still a lot of picking to be done, differing quantities of all varieties have been crushed. Cabernet Sauvignon is traditionally the last of the varieties to be picked and we received 15 tonne this week, with more expected next week.
Riesling being basket pressed
The first Riesling ferments are completed and Chester is excited by what he has tasted. We did not make a Dry Dam in 2009, so it’s great to see the 2010 in such good shape to follow up on an award winning 2008 vintage.
Tags: Australia, d'Arenberg, Harvest diary, McLaren Valle