Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling

Hej, Hello allihopa everybody!

Hope you all have had a nice Easter, hope the sun was shining on you where ever you've spent it. Today I have my first day of sins Easter Monday (Annandag Påsk) and I'm spending it in Queenstown with three of my work colleagues Andre (the quiet German) Andrea (The loud American) and James ( the witty Englishman). Yesterday the three of us went to the cinema in Wanaka, it's fairly well known in the area for it's unusual auditorium with sofas instead of regular fold down seats, they also offer beer during the movie and newly baked chocolate cookies during the mandatory intermission.

The last week we have finished of the Calvert vineyard and all it's Pinot, and now moved on to the so called Cornish Point vineyard to pick fruit over there. The Cornish Point is at the lowest altitude of all the vineyards and really close to the water of lake Dunstan. We had a nice first morning here with beautifully looking grapes that was easy to pick and had good flavours. But after lunch it was a totally different story when we move to a different block which had been under sever attack from birds and bees, which also contributed to quite allot of botrytis (mögel). This meant allot of grapes had to be thrown away and much work in sorting and tidying up the bunches of grapes to get rid of bad grapes and save the good ones.

We have also continued to pick the grapes at Elms vineyard which have been nice. The Elms is the original vineyard where everything began for Felton Road it is also where the winery is situated. But mostly it's the home to the best blocks which produce the greatest Pinot Noir (blocks 3 and 5), Chardonnay (blocks 2 and 6) and Riesling (block 1) for Felton Rd.

I've also been to a very nice dinner this Thursday at Gareth's (the boss) home. We had great venison with roasted potatoes and really good corn. We also had some nice cheeses brought by Anne (really funny German lady that lives in London). And off course allot of wine, I had the privilege of driving so I had to spit the whole time :-( Unfortunately my blind tasting skills seamed a bit rusty and I didn't do very well, but I had allot of fun anyway.

We are expected to finish the harvest on Wednesday the 22nd of April, and then I'm of on my last few adventures before flying back home. Probably stay in Cromwell until the 25th to visit a few other winery's before I go to Queenstown for the weekend and then I fly to Auckland on the 27th. from Auckland I will go to Waiheke Island to stay there for a few days and visit some more wineries and relax a little before going back home on may 2nd.

See you
Martin