Vintage 2023 - A Very Busy Week - Lots Of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro
A Very Full Winery
Vintage 2023
After a leisurely start things have got very busy
This past week essentially saw vintage 2023 arrive in the winery. Most of our key blocks, Block 15, Primrose Shiraz and Cabernet, the Fromm 1919 Block and the remaining Estate Blocks were all handpicked and delivered to the winery in the past 10 days. Exceptional fruit, beautifully ripe and in perfect balance. Other than a bit more time, I could ask for nothing.
Long Days at Hayes Family Wines
We have heard a few sad stories from grape growers across the region, but with excellent crops and superb quality, it was a great week for winemaker and grower alike in the Hayes stable.
This week Andrew and I, with the help of a few friends crushed some 40 tonnes of Barossa Fruit, 2/3 of the harvest in a week or so. Now we have to pump over the 25 active ferments twice a day, and progressively press them off to barrel.
Marcus was in to Pump Over ‘The Marcus’
CRUSH - PUMP OVER - PRESS - BARrel
With the Winery now in full swing for Vintage 2023 our days are on permanent repeat, ground hog day at Hayes Family Wines. With the help of a few friends we will get through it.
Tessa takes the Job of Pumping Over very Seriously
What Next
With perhaps 2 to 3 weeks of picking to come we can expect a late finish this year, perhaps as late as the 26th of May. Our latest finish to date. With some key blocks in Ebenezer, Koonunga and Eden Valley to come there is no rest for Andrew and I.
Whilst we await the slow ripening to conclude, we have a winery full of fermenting wine to pump over, press and barrel. Based on what we have seen to date, 2023 will be a very good vintage for Shiraz and Grenache, Mataro is too early to call but we remain hopeful that the weeks will remain dry to allow the grapes to fully ripen.
New Barrels Awaiting 2023 Shiraz
The Ducks on Duty