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 Uutiset |
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24.12.2008 Happy Flowering and Hyvää Joulua!
Christmas eve sees flowering complete, with bunches set and berries beginning to form.
The flowering period for the Chardonnay was warm and windy, ideal conditions, while the Sauvignon had a small amount of rain in the middle, which appears to have had a slight affect on a very small number of bunches.
However, bunch numbers are high after a fantastic warm bud initiation period in December last year, so the few berries that may be lost will be of no consequence.
Since flowering there has been an unusually high amount of rain, 120mm so far in the month, while temperatures have stayed warm, which is ideal weather for berry development. So it looks like we will see some big fat berries on large bunches come the autumn!
Before that, we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years, and to all our friends and colleagues in Finland, Hyvää Joulua!
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3.12.2008 Flowering Begins.
The combination of warm spring days, a lot of wind and a little rain has seen flowering begin and progress quickly in Chardonnay vines and now begin in Sauvignon Blanc.
The Chardonnay, which traditionally flowers 10-14 days before the Sauvignon, showed it's very first signs of flowering on 21 November and by the beginning of this week it was nearly complete.
Following predictions, the Sauvignon showed it's first signs on Monday and provided the warm windy weather continues, should be complete mid to late next week.
This is one of the most critical periods in determining the size of the next vintage and also a crucial time for disease monitoring and pest control, as anything present on the flowers now will remain through until harvest. To date the vines are looking problem free, so another good season is hopefully in store!
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23.11.2008 Spring Growth Continues Apace.
Warm spring days, a good accumulation of moisture in the soil from winter and spring rains and an almost total absence of spring frosts have, so far, lead to strong spring growth in Marlborough's vineyards.
As a result, Vicarage Lane has already completed one round of bud rubbing (removing unwanted growth from low down on vine trunks) and started lifting the first wires on trellising systems to hold the growing canes in their vertical canopy.
Good weather last December, when this season's buds were initiated in the vines, has also seen a healthy number of florets forming on the new growth, and the very first of these, on Chardonnay plants have started to flower this week.
Provided the weather stays warm, Sauvignon Blanc flowering should follow in about two weeks.
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23.11.2008 Award for Sauvignon Blanc.
Vicarage Lane's 2008 vintage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was one of a smaller than usual number of Sauvignon Blanc's to receive an award at New Zealand Wine's annual Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
The competition, New Zealand's premier wine event, which saw over 1750 New Zealand wines entered and a little over one third given awards, was judged over 3 days earlier in November by a panel of New Zealand and international guest judges.
Air New Zealand Wine Awards
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