Back on BLOG
Written by Robert on Thu, Oct 29, 2009
in Categories: Winery and Vineyards
After a long absence of good Seidelberg Wine News, we the Seidelberg-Family and especially myself, Robert are happy to be back on board on our BLOG. First of all I would like to apologize for the delay in terms of current farm news etc. From now on I will ensure, that all of you faithful Seidelberg-Members will be the first to know about “What’s currently cooking over here, in our beautiful wine region Paarl, at Seidelberg and of course on the peak of the Lion Hunt alias De Leuwen Jagt”.
Well guys, before I start to write weekly about our wine news, I will tell you briefly about what has happened over the last few weeks here in good old South Africa. I guess most of you, who experienced Africa while they were traveling through the Western Cape in late June, July and beginning of August could see and definitely feel as well that we had a much cooler winter season this year. The winter is now for sure behind us, even though we still experience now and then a storm, which is blowing straight above our heads.
LIKE now, I mean while I writing these words to you, I can hear the wind blows so hard. Now I really understand what it means to be influenced by the mighty Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Even though we are a few kilometers away from the coast I can feel the cold breeze. But it is nice, I like it and a tasty glass of our Un Deux Trois in my hand, some really good music in the background keeps the thoughts running and the wine lover’s soul happy.
Anyway, this winter and the beginning of our season remind me of the words of our viticulturist Ian De Lange. He said to me the other day while we had a chat in the vineyard about the weather conditions and pruning: “Robert, he said, wine consumers should keep in mind that South Africa is more a cool climate wine region [coastal regions] then it is often communicated on a daily basis. Yes, we have got lions and elephants running around in the savannah, but this is far up in the warm northern-eastern cape, which is a few thousand kilometers away as you know. Down here, in the Western Cape, things are different. It is much cooler, the perfect environment for vines. “
And he is right. Exactly these combinations of cold days and a lot of rain in the winter season, warm – dry days in the summertime with continuously upcoming cool breezes from the coast in between makes South Africa so unique and one of the best world class producing wines countries in the world.
Anyway, the pruning season started off with a lot of rain. We started the pruning on the 21st of June 2009 with our Pinotage block and finished on the 28th of August 2009. The hard working hands of our labours did a great job over the last few weeks as usually, even though the weather was pretty nasty now and then. They finished about 105 ha of vines in a quite admirable time. Who ever got introduce to the joy of pruning, knows what our guys accomplished. Respect to them! So keep in mind the next time you drink a nice glass of good Seidelberg wine that in every drop of wine you drink lays a lot of hard work.
The pruning is as mentioned of the most important jobs in the vineyards. In the first place, pruning means cutting the one year old wood shoots. The pruning is the switch to influence the quality of the grapes, the growth and the production. But what kind of benefit the vineyards will bring out is very depended on the co-operation of the environment, the genetic performance and the general characteristics of the vitis-vines. The amount of pruned buds will generally influence the quantity of the upcoming shoots as well as the amount of blossoms. The growth of the buds is depended on the variety, of the weather conditions - softer temperatures in September influences the growth of the buds and wood positively the end of the harvest in the last season , deseases and the production of grapes per hectare. We usually prune the one year old shoot short to achieve stronger shoots in the future for a better proportional of leaves and crops, lower production per hectare and better quality. One of the most important duties when it comes to pruning is to ensure that the wood of the vines has got enough in organic substances in stock. This is very important for the quality of the wines in terms of flavors and colour. Especially in the warmer wine regions, a longer pruned shoot will lead to more stress in terms of drought and lower soil-substances.
As a result of all this hard work, the vineyards look in a very fine shape. The temperature picked up in middle of September and the growth of the shoots looks good. Ian De Lange, Jan Pieterson and the vineyard team look excited and enthusiastic into the harvest. The only concern might be the weather right now. Let’s hope that the rain season is really over for now. A slow growth of the vines under dry, warm weather conditions is all what we want to keep right now. I will chat with Ian this week about the vineyards again and I will keep you informed about everything what is going on. Until then my friends, have a nice glass of wine, because “A glass of red wine a day keeps the doctor away!”
October 29th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Hi Robert,
I am looking forward to read your news on the Seidelberg blog ! I just ordered a case of Seidelberg online since I am living in a German region without wineshops. Can´t wait to taste some more of your range. Especially Cecillia Shiraz Mourvedre Malbec 2006 makes me curious. Southern France in South Africa ? Quiet unique.
Cheers
Frank
October 29th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Wow, Robert, it is really interesting to read how many steps you need to hold a bottle of wine in your hand!
Of course I know something about the creation of wine, but sometimes its gonna be forgotten when you drink a glass of wine…
I am excited to read more!
I`ll keep my fingers cross for you, that the rain season is over now!
November 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Hello Robert,
Kati is right, it´s realy interesting to read how many steps are needed to hold a bottle of wine in his hands.
Is it also possible for you to name some of your distributors e.g. in Germany on your Website? This would make it easier for me to finally hold it in my hands.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Hello friends of Seidelberg Wines!
Great to hear that we can expect a good next wine season…unless the weather changes its mind.
It’s great to be updated again on what is going on in Paarl. And given the weather conditions in good old Europe right now, I believe Robert is very right in suggesting a glass of red wine everyday. Probably the best vaccination against flu or any kind of winter depression. Although I love your Sauvignons too.
Looking forward to read more.
And don’t forget: Save water, drink wine!
November 4th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Roberto! Thanks for the vivid images of Africa, and once again, as always, teaching me that wine making is an art form as it is a science. Look forward to seeing this in action. May be in 2010?!
Ciao
November 5th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hey Robert!
very nice article! I guess you do you the pruning by hand, don’t you? It would be great if you added some pics of the pruning just to understand how it works.
I was wondering what kind of tasks do you have in the cellar in this month…
Look forward to get more news!
November 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Hallo Robert, Hallo Seidelberg
hier gibt´s ein Video eines deutschen Weinmachers über euren Wein De Leuwen Jagt, Nuance. Fälschlicherweise nehemn sie an, dass es ein reiner Riesling ist und selbstverständlicherweise sind deutsche Rieslinge besser
Trotzdem ist das Video lustig gemacht.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2OnbHYYJEE&feature=player_embedded
November 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Hey Robert,
it’s so good to hear that there are still things in our world that need a lot of hard work and time to become something special. I really appreciate that! And I will think about it when I drink the next glass of your un deux trois, which is my favorite one so far. Looking forward for the next news!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Hi guys, glad you liked it. I will come back to some of your questions now:
@ Frank = Yeah, nowadays it is very common to order via the internet. I mean, to get the wine is as easy as downloading some nice tunes. We are very well know at Vinexus / Germany. Where did you get your last bottle of wine from? Would be quite interesting to get an idea. Only a few wineries in South Africa do that kind of unique Southern France blend. We are quite lucky to have the right soil [granite and red clay] , especially for Shiraz. I don’t know if you already notice, but Cecilia is one of our Social Responsible projects. The inspiration behind this project are the thousands of children on this continent who are without parents, health, homes and the opportunity to have fulfilled lives. Proceeds of the winesales of Cecilia will be used to benefit these children. So, another GOOD REASON to order a bottle or maybe two of it !!!
@ Georg = Thanks for your require. Our distributors are listed on the website http://www.seidelberg.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=50
We are very focused on direct sales and the Hellavine GmbH is our main distribution channel in Europe, especially in Germany. We are not reliant on third parties and our products are not sold to the supermarket channel. Please feel free to contact Irmi Volpert from Hellavine, she will kindly assist you. Tel: +41 61 417 92 30 / Fax: +41 61 417 92 29 / Email: i.volpert@hellavine.ch
@ Paul = 2010, no question about it. You need to come over !!! Beautiful nature and animals, two mighty Oceans, great people and “lekker” wine … and don’t forget the World Cup!
@ Maria = Yes, we do prune everything by hand to keep our quality standards up and myself went through this process already. Back then, my hands used to be swollen I tell you this. Therefore I have got a lot of respect towards our vineyard team. Every year the same procedure. The cellar up-date will be out next week as well. So, as I promise we are back on board!
@ Stanislav = Thanks for the vid. Yeah, I suppose they got the information wrong about the Nuance. It is actually a Muscat based blend…51% Cape Riesling and 49% White Muscadel. The Cape Riesling is not a Rhine Riesling. BUT, I have to agree, the Nuance shows lovely peachy flavours, as wells as spiciness and raisin flavours. So, to their defence, without knowing the blend you could easily come up with the idea it is a Riesling !!! … Nobody is perfect
!!!
… Kati, Martina and Katharina … THX a lot. Glad you enjoy our wines. The UDT is also one of my favourite ones. Until then … Cheers …
P.s.: Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence
November 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Glass of red wine a day may keep the pounds away…
In The Wine Lover’s Healthy Weight Loss Plan, author and cardiologist Dr. Tedd Goldfinger contends one or two glasses of the good stuff every night along with a Mediterranean meal plan of greens, fruit, lean meats, poultry and fish will help people shed pounds, reduce their risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s, gallstones, arthritis, blindness and stomach ulcers, improve skin quality and even make them better in the bedroom.
“It’s really a common sense diet - practical eating with moderate proportions,” says Goldfinger, an Arizona heart specialist who has been practising for 26 years.
I stumble on this article by accident, but its really good to know, if I am looking forward to Christmas Days
Cheers…and now with a quite conscience!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Hey Robert,
Good to hear that you’re back on the BLOG,…definitely looking forward to more news. As things are chilling off here in the northern hemisphere, it is always nice to hear warm news from the southern hemisphere. How has the season been progressing?
I personally had the experience one time of trying my hands at pruning vines……definitely a hard, time consuming task, so for 105 ha, i tip my hat to your team for that task!
Waiting for more news….