Dear Friends, the 2020 harvest season kicked off at the beginning of FebruWorry. The wine-growing regions of Walker Bay, including the Hemel-en-Aarde, (Heaven-and-Earth) valley, became a beehive of activity as farmworkers took to the vineyards to pick the ripened fruits. Unpredictable weather conditions dictate that today’s vineyards need to be managed on a day-to-day basis to ensure success. For a wine producer, every harvest time is absolutely crucial. Excitement, anticipation, and tension hang in the air as the teams decide when the grapes are optimally ripe for the picking. Determining that perfect day is a vital step in the journey from vine to bottle, and the weather has to play along as well.
Did you know that Tim Hamilton Russell planted the first vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 1976? Yes, just the other day! The first wines from their estate were made in 1981, and 40 vintages later, they are trail-blazing the globe. All vines are grown, pressed, matured, bottled and labelled on their own estate. Their success story is poured into wine glasses around the world and enjoyed in 55 countries. Currently, there are now 20 wine producers in the valley who followed suit. The particular terroir (soil) and cool maritime Atlantic climate of the valley region are favourable for making elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is widely regarded as among the finest from the New World. Their selection of noble varieties, vision, courage, hard work and patience produced a wine that expresses the beauty of our Hemel-en-Aarde valley.
However, a century ago, our valley was known as a place of sorrow. It was home to the first leprosy colony in SA. Tugged away in the mystical shadows of the valley, surrounded by the majestic mountains, their stigmatized “unclean” disease was kept hidden from the outside world. Lepers were not allowed to dwell with healthy people even as far back as the ancient days of Moses. Each patient farmed their own piece of land, and they were successful in growing vegetables that supplied their communal kitchen. On record, approximately 400 lepers are buried there. It is said that when you stand in the valley and look up, the mountains reach into the sky and disappear between the clouds. You experience a heaven and earth illusion simultaneously, hence the name Hemel-en-Aarde valley.
Next time you raise your wine glass for a toast, let it be a shout-out to the brave entrepreneurs and artisans of our wine industry. Not only did they boldly reclaim a valley, but they are also saying cheers to the New World!
Somebody once said, in wine, there is wisdom, in beer, there is freedom, in coffee, there is happiness, and in water, there are bacteria. Thus, choose our weapon wisely.
Our short visit to Jozi the last weekend of FebruWorry was a blast. The Saturday family birthday reunion and the Sunday morning coffee with friends at Olivia’s was special. A big thank you to those who participated.
After my last update I received a feedback from my friend and it left a whalesmile on my face, here goes:- “Nou ja toe, klink my julle het die aftree-opleidingsgids se eerste vier hoofstukke nou suksesvol aan álmal verkoop wat nog gewik-en-weeg het oor die voor-en-nadele van so ‘n onbekende stap.”
Cheers!
14/3/2020
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