December 2009 Newsletter
24-Dec-2009
IN THIS ISSUE
At this time of year I find myself reflecting on how fortunate southern
hemisphere wine makers are. The fact that this time, where we all
reflect on the achievements of the last year and the challenges of the
coming year, coincides with the time in the vineyard where we are
literally watching the fruit grow, is truly auspicious.
What
is the potential of this year’s crop? What qualities is the soil going
to give our wine this year? What is this little bunch of fruit going to
taste like when it’s in the bottle?
It
is amazing to take a sip of wine and think about all the things that
have contributed to the taste of the wine, from the soil to the fruit
to the blending and bottling. But, as I sit here looking out over the
vineyards, I know that the soil is the heart of a wine.
We
finished suckering the vines at The Berrio in early November and will
spend the rest of the summer watching them, hedging and thinning when
necessary, to ensure we produce the best grapes for The Berrio wines.
Find out more about this part of the winemaking process
The Secrets of the Soil
The
complexity of a wine is largely determined by the complexity of the
soil in which the vines grow. A complex wine is a multifaceted,
multi-layered wine that reveals different flavors as you drink it.
Complexity
describes the depth of flavor and aroma of a wine, its nuances. The
more complex a wine is the more interesting and a wine can receive no
greater compliment. Elim has soil with great complexity which gives our wines a head start.
Clearer Complexities
Having
recently bottled the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc we thought we should compare
the various vintages of The Berrio Sauvignon Blanc. Whilst all the
vintages are definitely refreshing and more-ish – the complexity of the
2009 seems clearer. Does that make it less complex?
How to Shuck Oysters
Although it’s the time of year where we indulge in all things
gastronomous, we are not going to be giving you a recipe. We’re rather
going to show you how to do something we do a lot at this time of year
- shuck oysters.
Easing Out The Berrio’s Sails
The last couple of weeks at The Berrio have been hectic so we’ll be “easing out” as we sail into 2010.
We’ve been to the Johannesburg Winex and participated in the Elim Wine
Growers Auction at the Bredasdorp Air Show.
JHB Winex was excellent. Our stand was full all the time and it was
wonderful to meet the managers of the restaurants and wineries that
stock our wines. We are truly grateful for the hearty welcomes, the
personal visits and especially to those who managed to pop in despite
having full appointment schedules. It was also a treat to enjoy a meal
after a full day on our feet at Cilantro and unexpectedly discover The
Berrio wines on their wine list!
The Bredasdorp Airshow Wine Auction was a great success and will become
a regular part of the bi-annual event. All funds raised went to Rûens
College – a school close to the heart of the Elim Wine Growers.
Franchen participated in the Akkoord Summer Christmas Concert on
December 5th. Akkoord is the harmony of three or more tones that fuse
together to sound like one. A beautiful and uplifting sound.
Francia finished primary school this year and is looking forward to
attending Bredasdorp High School next year and Catherine goes into
Grade 1 at Bredasdorp Primary School.
We’re going to the Magaliesberg for a few days in December where
Francis is meeting with a prospective distributor for the
Mphumalanga/Limpopo area. Elsje will be holding the fort while we’re
gone.
Remember that by “easing out” we mean (as in sailing) relieving tension
for a more comfortable and pacier journey, so although you’ll find us
at The Berrio relaxing in the sun, swimming and riding horses, we’re
most definitely open.
The Tasting Room is open for tastings
without appointment from the 15th of December to the 15th of January (Weekdays: 9am-5pm, Saturdays: 10am-3pm); and we have a
fabulous lunch platter that you can order to enjoy with your wine on the farm.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Festive wishes from The Berrio.
Francis, Franchen and the girls.
PS For those of you who won’t make it to The Berrio this summer – we
wish you a festive and peaceful holiday with your family and friends,
and a prosperous 2010.
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