Netting underway at Fancrest Estate

Posted on February 14, 2012 by diane.holding

It’s hard to find a complete pinot noir bunch that has started veraison proper. A few “chickens” have started to change colour but they don’t really count. By Friday we will have all but one small half hectare block covered and most of the birds out from under the nets. The weather has been gloomy almost all week and the forecast looks miserable: rain, then overcast, then more rain. If we don’t get weeks of clear good weather, this is probably going to be a season when we have to go back under the nets before harvest to spray for mildews! I dread the prospect…


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Pinot Noir 2013 Media Release

Posted on February 8, 2012 by diane.holding

In a year’s time the Wellington waterfront will be awash with New Zealand’s best Pinot Noirs, the world’s leading wine media and wine lovers and traders, makers and viticulturists.

It is Pinot Noir NZ 2013 – New Zealand’s premier wine event. It starts 28th of January and wraps up on the 31st.

This is the fifth Pinot Noir NZ event – it started in 2001 when some kiwi Pinot producers decided to invite the wine world to Wellington to see why our Pinot Noir is so extraordinary.

“We believe New Zealand is the “go to” destination for New World Pinot and this time we are drilling down into regionality. We will celebrate the different regions and styles,” says Pinot Noir 2013 chair Alastair Maling MW.

Each Pinot region – Wairarapa/Martinborough, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury/Waipara, and Central Otago – will be given a chance to educate, beguile, convince and entertain. Each day delegates will join a different region so everyone has a chance to talk to the winemakers, ask the awkward questions without feeling overwhelmed, and taste the wines of that region.

Pinot Noir NZ 2013 will be relaxed and intimate.

“This event is about debate – the wine world has a few sacred cows and we plan to dissect them – expose the myths and confirm the truths. Previous events have been more formal and we are now comfortable pulling on the gumboots and having a chat”

Keynote speakers include the UK’s burgundy expert – Jasper Morris MW, Matt Kramer from the United States will bring his acerbic wit and intelligence to the event, along with French viticulturist Emmanuel Bourguignon and Australia’s laconic Mike Bennie.

“Right now each of the Pinot Regions is planning their presentations – no doubt with a hint of competitive edge. The culinary programme is once again being co-ordinated by Ruth Pretty Catering and will focus on the best, the freshest and the wildest of kiwi foods to tease our guest’s palates. While this event is about Pinot Noir we see it as four days of Kiwi excellence and we want our guests to leave excited to return.”

“Ultimately we want to see New Zealand Pinot Noir on every great wine list, in every little bistro and in every cellar. We know it is a big task but we are well on the way and the stunning 2010 vintage will be the star of the show.”

For more information
Morag Fryer
morag@vinetowine.co.nz
Mobile: + 64 27 279 8372


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So was I right about the weather (or what)!

Posted on January 29, 2012 by diane.holding

In summary: A week from hell! and one I’d love to forget.
A vicious hail storm last Sunday followed by a wintry week is the last thing we needed right now. The vines had just been leaf-plucked around the fruiting zone, leaving it perfectly exposed when the hail storm struck. Berry damage on the weather side is extensive, while berries on the leeward side remain untouched. This gives us plenty of work to ensure the bruised and split berries dry up and fall off before harvest.
The vineyard is getting its final mow before netting.
The next few still days will be spent spraying and repairing broken posts. Then it’s all about getting the vineyard setup to take the lockout bird netting.
Plenty to do…


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What a weird season!

Posted on January 14, 2012 by diane.holding

After an unusually wet spring we’re hoping for some sunshine to bring in a perfect crop in March/April 2012. The met service says the warm dry weather is on it’s way but no sign yet that they’re right! Today we’ve seen our first very LATE strong nor’wester. A good sign?

It’s hard to believe the vines are still growing so strongly. Usually by now they’ve done their dash and the basal leaves are starting to yellow. Flowering was interrupted by rain and the juvenile bunches are as a result quite small. This could be a good thing if the quality is superb.

Keeping on top of the grass has been a huge task this season. Usually by December the hills around us are dry and the grass browned off. Looking around us we can see that they’re still green even after the farmers brought in the first cut of hay over Christmas. If there’s any more rain they’ll get a second cut off. Our organic cows are still grazing fresh pasture, which is extremely unusual. The cows are fat and happy and the bull is due to join them this week.

The weeks (and the budget) have largely been spent mowing top keep the grass in check this season. Nice to see however that with all the rain our herbal ley has taken and the bees are happier than ever with all the flowers in the vineyard.


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Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir shines at Waipara Lamb & Pinot Noir Dinner

Posted on November 1, 2011 by diane.holding

Di & Ian at Waipara Valley Lamb and Pinot Noir Dinner

Di & Ian at the Waipara Valley lamb and Pinot Noir Dinner 2011

What a night! Five beautifully prepared lamb dishes to match some awesome Waipara Pinot Noirs. Chefs Kate McMillan, Sarah Turpin, Shawn McGowan, and Jonny Schwass made this a night to remember. The chefs paired Fancrest Estate Di’s Pinot Noir 2009 with Waipara Valley Lamb Leg Pie, smoked parsnip puree and jus. Well done guys! We were thrilled with the match! Our 2009 Di’s Pinot Noir is turning into a real stunner.


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Fine Waipara Pinot Noir makes its mark

Posted on October 27, 2011 by diane.holding

It’s really nice to get good reviews! All we ever wanted was to make serious wines to enjoy with great food. Seems we did it! Just love the food combination ideas. Makes it all the back breaking work worth while… Hmmmm….

See the review in our News and Reviews lineup here: http://www.fancrest.com/index.php/wine-direct-mainmenu/news-reviews-mainmenu


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Congratulations to our All Blacks!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by diane.holding

The AB’s did us proud on the weekend. Hope you’ve all recovered from the hangovers!

Now it’s back to the grindstone. Labour Day marks the end of frosts (fingers crossed) and the beginning of spring planting. We’ve had plenty of regular rains and more are expected tomorrow so the grass is lush. It’ll soon be a race to keep up with the mowing. Time also to grub out the cocksfoot grass. The sheep don’t like it and it competes very effectively with young grape vines, so out it must come! The dogs go for their spring haircuts this week. Barley Grass has seed heads on it. As soon as they brown off they’ll work their way into the dogs’ coats and between their paws causing no end of discomfort. Easier to manage with short coats! I’ll post some photos after it’s done.

Had a great Waipara Winegrowers tasting on the weekend with Sedish winewriter Ursula Hellberg. Waipara turned on a perfect spring day for her visit. Received great feedback on our 2009 Di’s Pinot Noir: seems this is just the kind of Pinot the Europeans love!


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A glorious spring day at Fancrest Estate

Posted on October 17, 2011 by diane.holding

Spring flush at Fancrest EstateIt’s an amazing day out there. The bee hive is frantically busy. The grass is getting it’s first mow, to help ward off late frosts. Wes is walking every row, checking drippers are all working. When the nor’westers start pumping through, the vines are going to need the occasional drink. New growth in the vineyard is looking amazingly even, and is a testament to the effort we put into tidying up vines during pruning. Last week the first spray went on (an organic mineral oil to keep mites and mildew in check). This is an action-filled time of the year, yet I’ve never felt more calm. Having an extra pairs of hands has been great.


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Fancrest Estate picks up medals at IWSC 2011

Posted on October 14, 2011 by diane.holding

2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition

IWSC Bronze MedalFounded in 1969, the IWSC is considered to be the oldest and most prestigious competition of its kind. The awards given by the competition are believed to be among some of the highest honours in the industry. Judging includes a blind tasting consisting of panels selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges followed by a detailed chemical analysis.

Fancrest Estate’s entires came from young pinot noir grape vines planted on our limestone fan in Waipara New Zealand in 2003. These vines have had a hard life slowly pushing their roots through inhospitable limestone soils on a site managed organically from the outset. No cushy start for them!

Winning these awards meant the judges scored these two wines somewhere between 75 -79.9. In a nutshell the judges consider our wines to be good examples, well above average! And from such young vines! We’re a boutique, relatively unknown player and we hope this achievement will give wine drinkers and buyers the confidence to try our wines…They just get better and better with time.

Fancrest Estate is a family owned vineyard run by Ian & Di Holding. Di grows and makes the wine. From 2011 vintage Di took a firm hold of the winemaking and moved all winemaking activities back to the Estate to improve quality. Given the quality of the 2011 vintage in barrel we have no doubt this was the right move for us.


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Living off the land at Fancrest Estate

Posted on October 12, 2011 by diane.holding

Running an organic Estate means having to quickly get to grips with managing animal stocks. While spring is the time for lots of cute new additions, it’s also the time when the number of dominant adult males in the flock of free range fowl has to be whittled down to stop infighting.

It gets pretty rough for the smaller weaker roosters if we don’t cull them out. We’re getting really good at making Fancrest Estate Coq au Vin using our own home grown roosters and our own Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir. TGF pressure cookers. These birds are tough as nails.


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