Harvest Time

This is our 21st vintage, and the first one when both David and I have been around together to tend the harvest. I was teaching and/or running a restaurant for all the others.

When we first planted the vineyard, we were determined not to have a monoculture- so along with the grapes we planted figs and olive trees and a mulberry tree. We extended that into apple trees, old fruit and nut trees and citrus trees, specifically limes.

This year the crops have been amazing and have spent all of my spare time trying to make something out of all the produce we have. This means an apple can't fall off a tree without me picking it up and making something from it, or feeding it to the pigs, chickens or the worms.

This blog will cover some of the decisions I have to make on a daily basis. Choice is great, but too many choices are so frustrating! It's hard work trying to live from the land, and I am constantly amazed at the people who produce and create new and beautiful products. In this blog I hope to tell some of their stories.

Today we are trying to coordinate some merlot grapes from the Hawkes Bay; which our son Luke is making into grape juice. He has had to leave the country for his job as first mate on a boat called Twizzle. This morning I had a call from the person pressing the grapes- where are they? We can't get in touch with the truch driver or the vineyard owner- so can only hope they are somewhere on the road. Watch this space!

Stop press...they are nearly there.