Oatley Vineyard Second Harvest
The alarm went off at 7am Sunday morning to arrive at Oatley Vineyard and be greeted with coffee for a 9.30 start. There were lots more people this time to help and some of the pickers have been doing it for over 10years! That shows what a great day it is.
Iain is in the kitchen this time while Jane joins the pickers in the crisp fresh sunny vineyard.
The grape variety is Kernling and is the later ripening grape variety of the 2 Iain and Jane grow. Madeleine Angevine being the harvested grape back in September. Working the Oatley Harvest
The Kernling grape makes the wine Leonora’s which has been likened to a Sancerre which is made from the famous Sauvignon Blanc. Unlike Sauvignon Blanc the Kernling can be aged and develops in to gorgeous honey notes, which is not surprising when you find out its first cross was with a Riesling.
The acids were slightly higher this year
Oatley Vineyard Second Harvest
which is general across the South West. This will be adjusted in the winery to ensure that the 2010 Leonora’s is balanced and reaches you in perfect condition as it does every year.
I now have to be honest, it wasn’t a hard days graft for a superb feast! We were finished before 1pm and that was with a coffee, cake and wine break! The pickers were a plenty and were skilful.
So bubbles in the sun by 1pm and ready to start our feast of salted salmon, lamb, a scrumptious blackberry dessert, cheese and coffee. We spent more time eating then we did picking, I somewhat feel the day was out of balance!
Feast at Oatley Vineyard
For more information on visiting and buying Oatley Wine please go direct to Iain and Jane. www.oatleyvineyard.co.uk