CATEGORY SUMMARY

Vintage 2024 is just around the Corner

Vintage 2024 started back in September 2023 with the first signs of growth and renewal. Since then, we have had rain and warmth at the right times and the vines and the resulting crop has progressed to plan. At this stage, things shift to vintage preparation and planning. We are now probably 2-3 weeks from the chardonnay arriving at the winery, We have some wines to bottle, some cleaning to do and we will be ready for what vintage 2024 brings to the table.

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Sustainability - A journey in the Vineyard, Winery and Cellar Door

At Hayes Family Wines we have always sort grow the grapes and make the wine at the best quality level we possibly can. Part of this we see as an obligation to minimise the environmental impact we have on our soils, vines and people. We are seeing consumer preferences evolving, new and older generations are expecting businesses to take actions that are consistent with their own expectations and care for the environment and interest and knowledge in what they are eating, drinking and consuming. But this is a journey, not and end point, and Hayes Family Wines is making some progress.

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New Infrastructure for the Dry Year Ahead

Having Pruned and Reworked our Old Stone Well Blocks, we took the opportunity to replace the sub-mains, dripper tube and wires after 30 plus years of service. We have not needed supplementary water for the past 3 years, but now, with hot dry conditions forecast, we may need access to a reliable source of external water for the summer ahead.

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Winter in the Barossa Valley - It’s Pruning Time

Pruning is without doubt the most important activity of the year. It requires great skill, persistence and special people. Mandy has been in charge of pruning for years at Hayes Family Wines, we trust her implicitly. Vintage 2024 and 2025 is dependent on her work. Conditions are tough but the vines appreciate it!

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Organics & Sustainability, News Brett Hayes Organics & Sustainability, News Brett Hayes

Young Guns Of Wine Vineyard of the Year 2022 - Winners Announced

The annual Vineyard of the Year Awards have been decided, with the trophy winners for the third instalment announced at a trophy presentation in Melbourne on Tuesday night – the first in-person presentation for these awards. Narrowing the top 50 down to the 4 winners was tough I am sure, but some very worthy winners were selected.

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Vintage 2023 - A Very Busy Week - Lots Of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro

Vintage 2023 has finally kicked into gear with more than 60% of our predicted harvest arriving in the winery in the space of 7 days. Our Estate Fruit, Block 15, Primrose Reds, and the 1919 Shiraz all arriving inside a week. Many of our very best blocks are now safely in the winery, crushed and fermenting away. With a few key blocks still to come from the North and East, we still have a month to go but with good quantities and very good quality, both Growers and Winemakers have cause for happiness.

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Vintage 2023 - We Now Get Serious - Our First Shiraz

After a slow start to Vintage 2023, today, 3 April marked the start of vintage at Hayes Family Wines for the dry red destined fruit. The first pick, Block 1 from the Estate Vineyard in Stone Well. Beautiful clean fruit, excellent cropping levels (best in some years). A picture perfect start to vintage 2023 for the reds. We expect we will see a lot of fruit over the coming days with Southern Fruit expected from Williamstown tomorrow. Busy times ahead.

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