The
Akizawa Block, named after Taka and Tsukie Akizawa (kneeling to the
left) was planted in September 2005 with 660 Viognier vines in 12 rows.
All up the block spans approx. 1/2 acre. In honour of the Japanese
investment in the vineyard, a gate in Japanese and English welcomes the
visitor. Each row is also marked with dual language signs and
bougainvillea.
The soil is light loam over heavy clay so the plot was not deep ripped
rather, the soil was mounded and well mulched with sugar cane. The
mulch in fact worked so well that after initial rains in December and
January, the vineyard did not require any irrigation until May 2006.
The vines grew well and yielded a small crop of 760 kilograms after just one year! To keep the birds at bay, nets were put over the rows and pegged in late December 2006. The grapes were picked on 21 January 2007 by a happy band of wine club members.
The First Harvest 2006-2007
 06.Oct.2006
Viognier Grape Flowers |
 02.Dec.2006
Unripe Grapes (Green) |
 19.Dec.2006
Ripening Grapes |
 21.Jan.2007
Harvesting |
The grapes were pressed and fermented in stainless tanks yielding a mere 447 bottles. Estate bottled, the Reserve Viognier 2007 is dry and crisp with tremendous depth of flavour of apricots and white peach with naturally high acidity.
