We are now three and a half weeks into the harvest at Sainte Rose and have two thirds of our grapes safely picked and in the winery. The only white grape remaining to be harvested is our older block of Roussanne, which we always leave a little longer on the vine to concentrate the flavours. All the other whites are now being gently managed through fermentation and the winery is full of amazing aromas from the wonderfully fragrant early varieties of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Muscat.
The reds are proving to be equally fragrant and are already showing superb concentration. We have now picked Syrah and Pinot Noir for red and rosé sparkling base wines, still rosé wines and still red wines, in addition to Merlot for rosé and red. Yet to harvest are the varieties that tend to ripen a little later, so Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
With all this juice in the winery, there is never a dull moment and the Sainte Rose team is kept busy racking, inoculating and pumping over. The newly converted concrete tanks are already in use and providing much needed additional space for individual vinification.
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