Kia Ora and welcome back to French Peak updates! We’re excited to finally share what’s been happening with us. After a bustling harvest, we took some time over winter to relax and enjoy special moments. Time well spent with family and friends in Scotland, as well as celebrating Simon’s mother’s 100th birthday! Meanwhile, we’ve also been busy preparing the vineyard, Cellar Door, and accommodation for the upcoming busy season. So here is a quick peak of what we’ve been up to.
We love having sheep in our vineyard and with that comes numerous benefits. They help maintain the grass and weeds between the vines naturally, reducing the need for mechanical mowing and helping with our organic practices of not using chemical herbicides. The sheep grazing also improves soil health by promoting aeration and nutrient cycling. Plus, their presence is a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to vineyard management.
As for the “ladies who lunch,” they certainly embraced their wild side this time round! After finding a little escape over our vineyard fence, they were keen to keep the party going in our Cellar Door region which provided plenty of entertainment. What is it they say...work hard, play harder?A very special happy birthday to Elizabeth, Simon’s mum, who turned 100 years old in June. We marked this incredible milestone with a celebration featuring bottle number 100 out of 133 bottles of our extremely limited edition 2022 Chardonnay — an unforgettable tribute to an extraordinary occasion.The grapevine’s life cycle is essential to winemaking, beginning with Dormancy (Winter), where the vine rests and stores energy. In Bud Break (Early Spring), buds swell and new shoots appear, marking the start of active growth. Flowering (Late Spring) follows, leading to Veraison (Summer), where grapes change colour and ripen, increasing in sugar content. Harvest (Late Summer to Early Autumn) is timed for optimal ripeness, determining the wine’s flavour. Finally, in Post-Harvest (Fall), the vine sheds its leaves and prepares for dormancy, ready to begin the cycle again. Nature is a wonderful thing and we have been lucky enough, with the help of our vineyard team, to have been able to give our vines the best start to their new cycle.
Meanwhile, Carolyn has been busy with some DIY gardening, adding her personal touch to all the hard work done by Akaroa Mowers. She’s fully embracing her “Charlie Dimmock era,” channeling creativity and hands-on energy into the garden. Our boat has been repainted and our pond is also beginning to fill back up after a long drought over the summer months. We can’t wait to welcome you back in and let you see for yourself the amazing changes that have occurred. Local Banks Peninsula artist Jen Coster (IG: @peninsulapaintings) has created this stunning masterpiece that now hangs proudly in our Cellar Door for all to enjoy. Be sure to visit her Instagram and see if you can spot any other familiar sights!
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