Old but not cold – introducing the Certified Heritage Vineyards seal – winemag.co.za
Christa von Le Chevallerie, whether because of her German extraction or not, generally comes across as unsentimental but she was clearly displeased with the sand-mining trucks barreling along the backroads of the Paardeberg early this past Saturday morning. Von Le...
Old Vine | Mar 19, 2018
US Woordfees 2018: Ouwingerd-erfenis-wynproe by Spek en Bone – Litnet.co.za
Om te verstaan hoekom spesifieke wyne meer uitsonderlik in karakter en mondsensasie as ander is, moet mens eenvoudig net proe. Die eerste 2018 US Woordfees Ouwingerd-erfenis-wynproe het op 6 Maart 2018 by Spek en Bone plaasgevind waar sjef Bertus die ouwingerdwyne...
Old Vine | Mar 19, 2018
Photo and video competition
The Old Vine Project (“OVP”) is inviting the public to enter footage of old vines, 35 years and older, both photographic and drone. BRIEF: Present the essence of an old vine through the unique texture and structure of the vine Express the individuality of an old...
Old Vine | Mar 8, 2018
Harvest time
Harvest time - take regular samples of your grapes, or taste regularly, as a heatwave during one weekend can push the grapes from 21 to 23 B! Do the last bit of removal of green, delayed bunches in red grapes to even out maturity levels. Start planning your cover...
Vineyard revival – November update
I wrote a blog entry about two months ago about a Chenin blanc vineyard we are rescuing - you can find it here. So it is time to update you on the progress of this vineyard. It is doing excellent! The bit of attention we gave it showed real good response. I took...
Hunting old Vines in the Olifantsriver – Vredendal, Lutzville and Koekenaap
“So, this block here, 47 year old Chenin blanc, still doing OK, I guess. Pushed out about 27 tons a Ha last vintage” …. Jaco and I looked at each other and shared the same thought “Doing OK? 27 tons a Ha at that age?” We agreed in the bakkie driving to the next...
In the vineyard – Practical advice for November
This certainly is like no other November we know – it is dry and the first really hot day (39°C) was on the 30th October. With two really hot weeks on the horizon, we need to manage our vineyards carefully. When confronted with a dry season, like we have been for...
The Old Vine Project – Wine.co.za
I recently attended an Old Vine Project (OVP) tasting lead by André Morgenthal and Jaco Engelbrecht. The aim of these tastings is to create awareness around the preservation of old vineyards by promoting sustainable viticulture - this is clearly an industry...
What Lodi can do to slow down the loss of old vine plantings
It’s a good time to enjoy good ol’ old vine Zinfandel. There’s a little bit of chill in the air, leaves are turning color, and the mind drifts off into memories of brown spices, baking pies, stews on the stove, bread in the oven, ugly sweaters. But enjoy those...
Last Rites for Lodi’s old vine growths
The Phillips Family Issues Dire Warnings Imagine a Lodi without old vine Zinfandel. It’s not an impossibility. This issue always comes up in years when yields are down, as they were in 2017, 15%, 25%, or even more than 50%. This time around it comes in the middle...
