Rain at the wrong time

My Sauvignon Blanc was coming along well, and we planned to pick last Saturday.

However, the RAINS CAME. 20mm on Saturday and 40mm on Sunday. A week ago they all looked beautiful, very promising. But today when we picked, half of the crop was damaged as you see in the picture, and we only delivered under 300kg to the wine maker.

The pictured grapes were not picked!

Amazing how quickly things can change. In January I was watching my dam run dry and worrying about the grapes failing to fill. In 2009 I had 500mm rain altogether, and the average for here is 900mm. InJanuary this year I got 20mm – but then along came February and, now, last weekend.

I have checked the Shiraz, and there does not seem to be much damage to them, and they would have another couple of weeks before they are ready.

But, count my blessings, there are other vineyards round here that have had their whole crop wiped out.