Spring has well and truly arrived at Carvers Hill Estate, and we are delighted to share that the vineyard is looking in excellent shape as we move through what is shaping up to be a very promising growing season.
Perhaps the most exciting development this year has been the timing of bud burst, which arrived approximately two weeks earlier than we recorded in the same period last year. The vines have responded with real vigour and shoot development across the majority of our blocks has been impressively strong. The energy and pace of growth at this stage gives us a great deal of encouragement about the season ahead.
Of course, cool climate viticulture is never without its challenges, and this spring has served up a few. Significant diurnal temperature swings, between unusually warm afternoons and cold nights, coupled with bitter easterly winds, have meant our team has been keeping a close eye on conditions throughout the frost window. Some lower areas of the vineyard have felt the effects of the cooler nights more than others, as is often the nature of the landscape here, but we have managed it well and the vines are in good health.
As the shoots develop, we have been carrying out crown thinning, carefully removing secondary and tertiary shoots to focus the vine’s energy into the strongest primary growth. It is one of those quiet but vital jobs that makes a real difference later in the season, and we are pleased with how the vines are responding.
There is always something exciting about this point in the growing season; the vineyard is coming to life, and the hard work of the coming months begins in earnest !
We look forward to keeping you updated as the season unfolds.