Ferments finishing

Green leaves turn red and brown under slate grey skies, Autumn has arrived.

Every day the Baume goes down and the alcohol goes up. Most of our ferments have finished and the wine ready to mature .... bucket by bucket shimmering sheets of purple wine go into the barrels. We've invested in some new French Oak barrels, after experimentation we are finding a mix of new and old French suits our taste. Some of the 07 reds are showing every sign of being ready to bottle.

Our Make Your Own Wine day was lovely, crisp day with a warm sun so the guests enjoyed hand picking the Cabernet grapes. After a morning of crushing, plunging, measuring and pouring wine into barrels their appetites were good for the best Roast Chicken you have ever tasted stuffed with preserved lemons, and herbs.

The heavenly scent of a ripe Quinces in the orchard tells you it is time for jelly making.

The lull between our Grape Harvest and Olive Harvest is more like taking a breath than a holiday. We have begun plans for the Oil, cleaning out the pickling tubs and ordering salt.