In Champagne the wine governing body determines the start and end dates of their harvest; it is normally ten days from the first day of harvest to the last. Ask any South African winemaker how long their harvest lasts and they will count the weeks and months!
But this year was different for us – well, at least for our MCC grapes. Harvest started with a bang: we returned from summer vacation and found fast ripening grapes! It seemed that harvest would be a week to ten days earlier this year than before! Things sprang into action and by 6 January the first Pinot noir grapes were being picked.
Our annual harvest day with friends took place on Saturday the 9th! A joyous affair as always. This was in fact Carla’s seventh harvest day with friends. We had to start very early (7am sharp) because the predicted temperature was close to 40′C – not the best weather for harvesting. But by 11 we were in the cool of the cellar and busy pressing (dancing on!) the grapes. See the photo album by clicking below.
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| Harvest2010 |
So, that was day four of the harvest. On Sunday we moved the clear pink grape juice from the sediment to barrels to start the fermentation process. Sunday morning our Chardonnay grower in Robertson called to say – as we had feared – that the grapes are ripening early and we should come and take a look. So by 6pm on Sunday we were there and, indeed, the grapes were ready for harvest. Monday there was more pressing of Pinot noir back in Stellenbosch (three tonnes that had been harvested on the previous Friday) and on Tuesday afternoon we were off to Robertson again.
Two days of harvest followed amidst January’s infamous heat. We worked hard but realised once again the grace (and the challenge) of living on a farm. See our next post for more reflections on Uncle Fritz’s Farm. By Thursday we were back in Stellenbosch to press our Chardonnay – two presses on Thursday and another two on Friday. Our sugar and acid levels were spot-on and the flavours are divine – 2010 promises to be a beautiful MCC vintage so far.
As the last juice flowed from the press to tank on Friday afternoon we opened a bottle of bubbly and realised: ten days ago we harvested the first grapes, just like in Champagne!
Tags: 2010, harvest, mcc, winemaking
