ZABIBU

We are going to need some good sunshine over this next week to reach our target sugar levels. We have had two nights of 4mm of rain and yesterday was overcast. We have not had much rain but enough to raise the humidity and to produce some fruit rot in the few grapes that have been pinched off. The birds are also having a good go at some of the ripest bunches at first light too and so the fruit flies have found the damaged grapes. More rain will not be helpful this week however.

 Birds have been at the grapes this morning. Fruitflies are in there too.

We are looking forward to Louisa Hargrave and her daughter Anne coming out on the 4th to add her expertise to the wine making this year. She was with us last year but missed the harvest as we had the grapes in the fermentation tanks this time last year. Here are some pictures of the Pinot Noir. They look like they need about 10 days but we shall keep you posted.

 Looks like another week to ten days for the Pinot Noir. Pips are still green.

The Chardonnay are ripening well too. Most are still quite green but these are full of flavour. I think the chardonnay will be at least 10 days until yet. I spotted some mildew on some of the chardonnay this morning. We need to thin the leaves around the fruit to get more sunshine on to the vines and the wind through the foliage. This will hopefully prevent mildew affecting the fruit further isf we have any more night time rains. We also have lots of little black spots on the chardonnay fruit this year. I have not seen this before. They are sort of crusty spots. I took a picture of the spots on the Chardonnay. Any ideas?