Wyfold Harvest Two ... Chardonnay

On a cold Sunday morn,
We start before dawn,
Us volunteer pickers,
Go at a lick, 'cos,
Barbara’s vines must be shorn.

So that FINALLY is that. The last grape of 2011 is in. Barbara and Cherry worried themselves half to death but all went tickety-boo. Nice mostly sunny, above all, dry day.

More volunteers than ever before. Sixty! Even with NZ-Aus on telly.

Semi-organised (you can't whip volunteers, we find) but enthusiasm overcomes all. Lots more grapes than ever, but the weight about the same as last year (two 3-ton truckfuls). Would've been an amazing crop if we had had a good, hot Summer – but … there y'go. It’s still very acceptable.

Immaculately clean fruit. Even if it could've been riper. But, luckily, sparkling wine doesn't need ripe grapes. Doesn't want them, in truth. The flavours that make Champagne what it is, come from the cellar process rather than vineyard work. Same here.

So the girls have high hopes for this vintage.

By noon, all done. Pile in for soup-hot sausages-chicken-ham-cheese-apple pie-and-lots-a-wine. Bit of a party. Lee and Helen take the trucks off to Uncle Mike at Southridge. Some of us then go for the Sunday afternoon nap we've been missing these last hectic weeks.