The Mission Estate harvester was up and running early yesterday for what was likely to be the first 2015 vintage pick in the Bay. Photo / Duncan Brown
The Mission Estate harvester was up and running early yesterday for what was likely to be the first 2015 vintage pick in the Bay. Photo / Duncan Brown
In wine vintage terms it was an earlybird pick at Mission Estate yesterday but in terms of what winemaker Paul Mooney is after the timing was spot on.
For the second year he and viticulturist Steve Wheeler have overseen the growth, and no harvest, of an early pick pinot gris- picked early to ensure it will meet the low-alcohol standards they are aiming for.
"Pick now before the sugars get up," was how Mr Mooney put it.
Last year Mission harvested about seven tonnes of the organically grown pinot gris, which Mr Mooney said was the most suitable in terms of flavour for their low-alcohol range.
This year's harvest was well up on that with about 20 tonnes being picked and sent straight to the pressing room.
It began about 8.30am and by late morning about half the crop had been picked.
Mr Mooney said Mission had a strong belief in the potential for the low-alcohol market, and that had been backed up by the response the 2014 "trial run" of pinot gris had got through the cellar door over the summer.
"People were tasting it and then buying it and I think we've come up with a good style."