Hard to believe but Budburst has arrived. As I write this newsletter the last of our vines are breaking their buds wide open and launching new shoots skyward with significant haste. The Chardonnay blocks actually started shooting on the 23rd of August, some three weeks earlier than expected, and now boast shoots carrying three leaves or more. More surprising though was the Member’s Block Ruby Cabernet; whilst it only started shooting on the 29th, its growth has been phenomenal, almost catching the Chardonnay. It must be the “unique” pruning styles employed by our dedicated squad of members! Our Vineyard Manager, Scott Ling is so far very pleased with the consistency of the budburst and the rate of growth thus far.

In the March Newsletter I wrote a fairly sobering summary of the 2007 vintage. Whilst the quality of wine produced was very high, the exceptionally low yields, and the prospect of no water for the following year was taking its toll on my morale. It is now, after some 300mm of rainfall over the last two weeks, quite amazing to reflect on those comments.

The 13th Lovedale Long Lunch took place on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of May. The event was a great success with estimates putting attendance at around 14,000 people over the two days.