Wine & Grapes Update

Last years Sangiovese Rose is poor, I think we picked at too low Brix.  The grapes are looking really good this year, my plan is to pick at around 24 Brix, and to soak on skins for 48 hours.

We have had a lot of problems with something eating the grapes again, I am convinced it is deer,.  We have hung bars of soap and this seems to have solved the problem.

Last years Pecorino has been bottled, and I am really pleased it is the by far the best wine we have made yet, so this year I am targeting to pick again at 24.5 Brix.

As of today Briox levels are

Pecorino;  20
Sangiovese; 16
Montepulciano ; 15

Still a way to go so fingers crossed for some sunny days

Sangiovese

Picked the Sangiovese today.  Its a little early as its showing Brix at 21.5, but I am hoping to make a light fresh Rose not too high in alcohol.  Total weight picked was 96 Kgs, the grapes were in great condition, big clean bunches with large grapes.

Pecorino Harvest

Saturday 5th September

Rain in the morning, after a couple of hours of lunchtime sun, we picked 87 kgs of Pecorino.  Much better harvest than last year.  These were crushed, left overnight on the skins, and pressed gently next day to make around 50 litres of juice.  The Juice was measured at 24.5 Brix.

Grape Update

Its rainy and cold today in Italy, not at all what we want for the 19th August.

However we have had some fine and hot weather for a while now, and the grapes are looking better than they ever looked.

Last night I tested the Brix and we have 17 on the Sangiovese and 18 on the Pecorino, so looking like they will be ready early September.

Pruning Update

Grapes looking very tidy, 3 vines at top of Sangiovese row have black spots on leaves, Duncan has taken photos.  Otherwise looking good;

2013 Wines

I tasted the wines from last years harvest today.  All 3 are looking fine, clear, with good clean flavours and aroma.

Summer Pruning

Omi, Isis and I arrived at Orchidea on the 8th May, what a great time of the year to be in Le Marche.  We had 23 degrees and sunshine for 3 or 4 days with signs of summer starting all around.  No signs of fireflies yet though!

The grapes have started growing with plentiful shoots of between 3 to 9 inches growth already, I spent about 4 hours taking out a large number of shoots, and leaving around 6 shoots only evenly placed on each cordon.

On the vines that have not yet converted to Guyot, I tried where possible to make sure I left a few shoots near the crowns that can be converted into next years canes.

The vines have a great deal less shoots than previous years, although almost all shoots are already showing signs of forming grape clusters.  I am excited about our new pruning methods....I can see that we will probably get less yield, but that the grapes should be more consistent and healthy.