Hot Off the Press
Robb and I are thrilled to tell you that on Thursday 10th October we started harvest 2024, and even more exciting we’re processing our first grapes in the newly established White Castle Vineyard Winery—whoop whoop!
Robb has had a year of many Christmas’s with all the shiny new equipment delivered and installed, including lots of late-night reading (machinery manuals, of course!).
We’ve already done a trial run with the destemmer, which gave us a taste of what’s to come. It’s an incredible moment for us, like something out of a dream, and a brand-new chapter for White Castle Vineyard.
Frost on the Horizon
With frost predicted and temperatures forecasted to drop to -2°C on Friday, October 11th, we made the quick decision to call upon our friends, family, and Adopt-a-Vine holders to jump into action for an impromptu vendange (harvest). Premium fruit too good to lose to frost couldn’t wait another day.
The Big Day
Checklists complete, we set out on day one of our harvest with a plan to pick not one, not two, but three grape varieties. A picking crew of 45 strong helped us hand-harvest everything we planned—and all before lunchtime!
Our harvest began with Phoenix grapes, the first to grace the destemmer. This kicked off the grape-to-glass journey, where only the ripest grapes move forward, while the stalks are left behind. This process helps to reduce tannins and allows for wines with smooth texture and structure.
- Press & destemmer setup
- 1st Pinot Noir Precoce in the destemmer
- Pinot Noir Precoce, 1st vat 2024
Next up, Pinot Noir Précoce and Robust Rondo went through the destemmer and straight into tanks for fermenting, resulting in two vats of red wine—Ta-dah!
After the white grapes were pressed, they were transferred into vats, and the cleaning process began (our new best friends are a hose and a brush).
What a Day!
Within 10 hours of our first grape being harvested, we had processed both white and red grapes, safely tucked away in their vats. Huge thanks to our wonderful picking crew for making this possible.
A New Chapter for White Castle Vineyard
This exciting venture will allow us to increase production while offering a unique experience for visitors and customers. Now, from grape to bottle, we will oversee the entire winemaking process, ensuring our wines are a true reflection of our craftsmanship and terroir.
With 13,500 vines planted, including our new Chardonnay, we are excited to see our yields increase over the coming years.
Looking Ahead We’ve started strong, but the harvest isn’t over yet. There’s more work to be done, and while this year’s yield is smaller—about 40% of our usual due to weather—we’re confident that the fruits of our labour will continue to tell the story of White Castle Vineyard (and the Established Winery in 2024).
Robb & Nicola Merchant
Visit: whitecastlevineyard.com
