Vintage Journal — 2026
Week 2 | 16 March 2026
The Season
The rhythm of vintage is now well underway.
An inch of rain early in the week refreshed the vineyards, followed by a stretch of warm, steady days. The balance between soil moisture and gentle warmth is giving us confidence as we move through picking decisions.
Upcoming Fruit
- Grenache Gris — Vine Vale — Rohrlach Vineyard
- Grenache Blanc — Vine Vale — Rohrlach Vineyard
- Roussanne — Dorrien — Yelland & Papps Estate
- Shiraz — Greenock — Materne Vineyard
In the Winery
Roussanne has begun its natural fermentation in French oak barrels, quietly building texture and complexity.
Grenache is midway through ferment, progressing steadily with a gentle extraction approach to preserve finesse and aromatic detail.
The first parcel of Shiraz has now been basket pressed and transferred to barrel, where it rests and begins its élevage.
Life in the Winery
The mornings and evenings are now filled with the unmistakable aromas of vintage.
Remontage has become part of the daily rhythm — gently drawing juice from the base of the ferment and returning it over the cap. This careful process allows for subtle extraction of colour, tannin and aroma, while introducing oxygen to support healthy natural ferments. Our approach remains restrained — seeking refinement over power.
Whole bunch Grenache, held in sealed vessels, has begun carbonic maceration. The slow build of CO₂ gently inflates the bags, a quiet signal that fermentation is underway. These parcels, driven by native yeasts, retain a vivid aromatic purity.
In barrel, the Roussanne has started to softly bubble — sugars transforming into alcohol, the first signs of what the wine will become.
There is now a clear shift in the winery — a sense that something important has begun.
The Work
The week has been defined by the first basket pressing of Shiraz and the hand harvesting of our Estate Roussanne.
Between winery work, time continues to be spent in the vineyard — walking rows, tasting berries, and assessing balance to determine picking decisions alongside our growers.
At the same time, export preparations are underway, with labelling and dispatch requirements being completed alongside the pace of vintage.
With the 2025 Vin de Soif, Single Vineyard and Limited Cuvée wines now bottled, attention is also beginning to turn towards their release — sharing these wines with distributors, importers and critics in the weeks ahead.
Place
There is a quiet calm settling over the property.
Cool mornings, cool evenings, and the gardens responding to the recent rain bring a sense of balance amidst the intensity of the season.
People
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting our Japanese importer Farmstone, alongside guests from the Huge Group. Although vintage had not yet begun, it was a moment to walk vineyards and share wines — a connection to both past and future.
Conversations with growers continue to be some of the most meaningful parts of vintage — shared understanding in a time that is both exciting and demanding.
This week also brought a number of private tastings for long-standing customers, held amongst the fermenters — a rare and special window into the season.
We are also grateful for the help of family friend Bob, who has returned to assist with harvesting a small parcel of our Estate Roussanne.
Craft
With just the two of us in the winery, this vintage is guided by a conscious intention — to remain measured, focused, and calm.
To take time with each decision, rather than be carried by the pace of the season.
To allow the vintage to speak, and to respond with care.
Closing Reflection
We cannot control the weather of nature,
but we can control our response to it.