THE weather has been perfect for growing grapes with wineries in the district looking forward to a good season.
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Peter Herrmann at Tilba Valley Winery said the early prognosis for this year’s crop of Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon was good.
“Things are looking great with the spring and early summer rains,” he said.
The battle against mildew and mould is a constant one requiring various sprays, as is keeping the birds off the crop.
He will be netting his vines as the fruit continue to develop with various parrot and currawongs being the main culprits.
But fortunately this year the wallabies have kept away from his Shiraz vines.
“Normally they come in at spring and pick apart our Shiraz,” he said.
“We’ve tried everything in past from disco lighting to nets, but nothing seems to keep them away.”
Meanwhile just to the south and off the Bermagui Cobargo Road, the Rusty Fig Winery is hoping for another bumper crop.
Their 4 acres of Verdehlo, Savirino and Tempranillo vines produced a record 1000 cases, far exceeding the previous 600 cases.
Frances Perkins said the vineyard on Narira Creek fortunately did not have a problem with mould, although the crop also needed to be netted against birds.
Rusty Fig wines continued to be served at restaurants along the coast, some of them Hatted, who wanted a local Far South Coast wine, while they also sold their wines online and at local markets.