One scary thing about summer 2009 was a burst of rain in mid February – usually our driest month. We were sent scrurrying through the vines for second round of leafplucking, 
trimming, crop thinning – all things to help grapes stay clean in a wet season.
But as it turned out, that was the last we saw of the rain, so we went through to vintage with a well tailored crop of excellent fruit, and all the time in the world to pick it.
New viticulturalist Richard Flatman joined us from Central in time to put his mark on the vintage and we steamed through in three weeks with no long days to sap the spirit and pain the back. Happy pickers.
Even the winery crew, John and Simon with interns Aimee (USA), Mathaias (Germany) and Conrad(Kiwi) had a relatively cruisy time – when the first grapes come in early, the nights are not so long.
Good weather, good grapes, good music (especially with Rodney from Chicago’s Juicy Wines as DJ).
Great wine ahead.
