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The Golden orb-weaver spider (Nephila edulis), one of the biggest spiders in Australia (45mm body).![]() |
And then the spiders are fat, IT IS VINTAGE TIME. |
Badge orb-weaver spider (Neosparassus diana)![]() |
Cabernet sauvignon grape![]() |
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Every variety ripens at a different time, and even different vineyard blocks of the same variety are different. So they are all picked separately, generally over a period of about eight weeks. |
The exact time to pick is one of the most important and difficult decisions in winemaking. Often there is only one day when a certain variety is at its very best for the year.
And the 'very best' is different for every year. |
Ripe pinot noir grape![]() |
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Ripe pinot noir grapes![]() |
Now we are constantly sampling, tasting and testing the grapes, watching every weather report available. And they always contradict each other, and always seem to be wrong. If only we knew what next week will bring? Or at least tomorrow?? |
Ripe Mourvèdre![]() |
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Ripe Merlot ![]() |
And then, one day the decision has been made. | There is suddenly mad activity: The bird nets of one vineyard block are taken off and the grass between the rows is cut short. The picking buckets go out, the winery is getting ready and we also harvest a dozen or so vines, count bunch numbers, berry numbers, take weights and other parameters important for vine management. | ![]() |
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And the next day, at dawn... | ![]() |
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... the pickers arrive! | ![]() |
John (photo by Gaby) |
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Janet (poto by Gaby)![]() |
This is the culmination of a year's work. | Mario (photo by Gaby)![]() |
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Ron (photo by Jeanne)![]() |
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Our pickers are VERY VERY SPECIAL. |
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We entrust them with selecting the best of our grapes, and their work has a major impact on the quality of our wine. |
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Frank (photo by Gaby)![]() |
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© Sarsfield Estate | ![]() |