Di's Wine Blog

1. First Cold Snap brings winter to Fancrest Estate
   Hail and icy wind have reminded us that winter is just around the corner. More nets are coming down every calm day we have. The only warm spot today is the three lovely ferments we have chugging away under their … Continue reading →
2. Looking for a Vineyard Intern to start in June 2012
   We’re launching our annual hunt for a Vineyard Intern to start in June 2012. Check out our website homepage at www.fancrest.com for details. Feel free to pass this info onto anyone who may be interested.
3. Harvest 2012 gets under way at Fancrest Estate
   Here are a few photos from harvest 2012. After poor flowering and two significant hail events the crop is much smaller than we had hoped for. One block will not be harvested at all. This is the latest we have … Continue reading →
4. Today’s the day! Harvest finally gets off the ground
   What a beautiful day we have to make a start on harvesting the 2012 crop. Taking a risk and letting the fruit hang even after the leaves began to drop has paid off. The skins are ripe! and there’s flavour! … Continue reading →
5. The Countdown to a late Harvest Begins at Fancrest Estate
   At last the sugar levels are creeping up with a couple of early Pinot Noir clones over 22 Brix. Could be picking next week at this rate. That’ll be a new late harvest record for us! There is a general … Continue reading →
6. Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir 2011 update
   Today we rack the last of the 2011 barrels into the blend. As always, our pre-racking tastings showed us that every block and variety is, on it’s own, very good, but different. Our blending trials, showed us they were simply … Continue reading →
7. All Quiet on the home front at Fancrest Estate ….
   Broken leg and ankle after a tumble in the vineyard …. week 3 down …. 3 more to go in a plaster cast! I now also have a serious dose of cabin fever. The vineyard is too steep and the … Continue reading →
8. Netting underway at Fancrest Estate
   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 … Continue reading →
9. Pinot Noir 2013 Media Release
   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. … Continue reading →
10. So was I right about the weather (or what)!
    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 … Continue reading →