It has been raining!! In May and June we received an average of 63 mm/month which is above our monthly average. In July we have already received 67mm (up to 17 July). The landscape is lovely and green, the dam is slowly filling up and pruning is well under way in the vineyard. See a photo of our dam taken on 18 July 2007.

Harvest 2007

Harvest 2007 was once again a small vintage with 35 tonnes of grapes harvested. The drought and the very hot dry summer contributed to this though we were luckier than many others and still had some water left in the dam. Looking forward to much needed winter rain! Luckily we did not suffer any frost damage to the vines and fruit. Harvest started earlier than usual in mid February and finished by the end of March... unheard off in the past! We had a very intense 3 days of picking over the long weekend in March (all 102 rows). We appreciate our loyal gang of pickers many of whom keep returning each year to pick! See our photos page and do email us if you would like to join us next year. The pickers enjoy the del Rios tradition of a sumptuous Pickers Lunch and wine to match after the picking!

Please visit again and follow the events of the seasons with our Winemaker. You may also like to look at our new Photo Album, where photos taken during the year are added to give you a sense of the life at del Rios.

Spring 2006.

The very dry conditions and early Spring weather was ideal for an even bud burst throughout the vineyard. Fine weather at the beginning of October meant strong shoot growth for the vines.

However early watering was needed to combat the dry winter conditions. De-budding and shoot thinning was carried out to maximise shoot growth and to encourage an open canopy to enhance fruit flavours.

We are lucky not to have suffered any frost damage to our vines and we have sufficient water in the dam to irrigate the vines this season. However, we hope "La Nina" will live up to her name and bring us rain.