Thursday, January 7, 2010

2010 Vintage Begins on Granite Belt

The first pressing of 2010 wine grapes on the Granite Belt began this week at two Ballandean wineries as part of their contract winemaking services.

On Tuesday Golden Grove Estate pressed Verdelho from Harrisville, west of Brisbane. Today, across the road, Ballandean Estate is pressing Sauvignon Blanc grapes which have been trucked in from vineyards at St. George.

Golden Grove will pick the first of the 2010 Granite Belt fruit in the third week of January. These white Muscat grapes will be made into their popular Muscadean wine. Ballandean Estate's first pick of their own grapes will be the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon in mid February.

Despite late frost and a series of hail storms earlier in the season, which have affected crop levels in some vineyards, quality is looking excellent. Across the Granite Belt veraison is occuring in the red grapes.