Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Happy May Day!

Hawthorn or white thorn blooms in May

Called Bealtaine in Irish, May 1 signifies the beginning of summer in the Celtic world. And it certainly looks like it today. Some of the hawthorns even bloomed for today. Hawthorn is the May Bush and was traditionally decorated with ribbons and fabric trailers. 

The vineyard looks stunning with that intense blue sky overhead, and puffy white cumulous clouds really stand out. The bluebells at the top of the vineyard are delicate reminders of nature's resilience. The wild garlic and daisies are prolific. There are loads of white butterflies flitting about and busy bees collecting nectar and pollen for the hives. I'm back on duty as chief pollinator rescue warden, safely returning strays lost in the polytunnel to the wilderness. 

Rondo

Solaris

Chardonnay


Pinot Noir

White butterfly


Native Irish bluebells




Ancient apple tree

Baby bleeding heart

Black elder

California lilac

Wild garlic and daisies


Clouds!


Intense blue sky




Monday, 29 April 2024

World Wine Consumption Slump



World wine consumption dropped to a 27-year low, according to International Organisation of Vine and Wine. In 2023 inflation pushed up prices and eroded household budgets, prompting consumers to buy fewer bottles. Total consumption was down 2.6%. That’s equivalent to an estimated 800 million fewer bottles being uncorked globally, led by the US, France and China.

Meanwhile, global wine production fell 9.6% in 2023. The vintage is the smallest since 1961 after ‘extreme’ weather slashed grape harvests around the planet.

Sparkling wines such as Champagne and Prosecco were the bright spot in 2023 and have seen ‘incredible growth’, with production and consumption tripling since 2002. 

First estimates for Southern Hemisphere wine production in 2024, indicate that it may rise around 5%, based on early data. Favourable growing conditions have been reported in Australia and Argentina. 

Let's hope our growing season shows similar promise. 

Friday, 26 April 2024

Worst European wine harvest in 62 years



A new report shows where has wine production dried up the most in Europe. And they are blaming it mostly on climate change. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) says production hit its lowest level since 1962. This intergovernmental organisation has 50 member states, representing 75 per cent of the world’s vineyard area.



Tuesday, 16 April 2024

Albariño bud burst

 

Albariño

Finally, the Albariño vines that are still alive have burst with life! We've lost quite a few of the 25 vines we planted, but it's nice to see that some survived. They are not thriving like the others, but they live. 

Interestingly, the Chardonnay are the most vigorous leafing this year, while the Solaris are well ahead of the Rondo. The Pinot Noir are waiting for warmer weather to show their foliage. The Solaris buds are the most robust of all. 

Albariño

Pinot Noir




Chardonnay


Solaris



Mr Ratty and Mr Rabbit discussing the new season



Monday, 15 April 2024

Short season grapes


Whereas British vineyards are switching to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it appears that Canadian provinces are moving to Gamay, the predominant grape grown in Beaujolais. As Gamay is another short-season grape variety, perhaps we should be planting some of that as well to replace the Albarino. 

Well, maybe we won't be planting anything more given the shite weather we've been having. Unrelenting wind, unrelenting rain. As of yesterday, we've had 89 mm of rain, close to the 96.8 mm LTA. I'd say that today we will have reached the LTA and the month of April will prove to be a washout. The poor farmers haven't been able to plant their crops nor let their animals out on the land. 

At least we won't die of thirst. 




Sunday, 14 April 2024

Leafing!


The Rondo has started to leaf, while the others remain just cracked open. The weather has sent us relentless wind and showers on and off. Will it ever be nice again?




Thursday, 11 April 2024

A morning of solace

 


This morning, it did not rain. It felt like the first time in forever. This evening it bucketed. When will it ever end?

I managed to get out and do some weeding in the veg garden. Took away a giant load but you cannot even tell I did anything at all. So frustrating. 

Ghostie and I took a walk through the vineyard. The Rondo and Solaris are coming along but no leaves yet. 

Last week had some interesting events in the USA including a total eclipse of the sun and lightning strike on Lady Liberty. Not my thing anymore. I'd rather watch the grapes grow.