Stonecutter Cellar Door Tasting
Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4 pm
2006/2007 has been a season of change and reassessment for the Pemberton-Harper clan at Stonecutter. Upheavals began early with a severe frost, then a bitterly cold early December which coincided with grape flowering. The combined result was a decimated crop - down over 80% on normal.
The last summer and early autumn was spent running the vineyard more with a view to the future than the current season. Everyone was thoroughly relieved when the grapes were finally picked! We sold the Pinot Noir fruit to another vineyard, made the Pinot Gris. There was no Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc, so Roger had a very laid back vintage and played at painting pictures.
The year has been punctuated by two deaths in the families - Lucy's mother and Roger's oldest sister Elizabeth. We thought that Roger's mum was going to go too, but against medical expectation she rallied and is back in her own home, doing well at 92, though with daily home help.
We often reflect on how fortunate we have been to have had parents and family well into our adult lives. Now, in our 50s, its inevitable that we and/or our close family and friends will increasingly “fall off the perch”, so we relish both direct contacts and recollection of earlier days.
In spite of the trials of the year, we are doing well. Lucy has now been back in the paid work force for over 18 months and is very well thought of by her colleagues; Roger is continuing with the vineyard while speculating on what might come next, and in parallel provides a somewhat left field input to the board of trustees of the local high school; Sherratt (nearly 16) is doing NCEA I and is now the tallest member of the household; and Rowan (14) has launched enthusiastically into college, has size twelve feet and is growing upwards to match them. More reassessments necessary for the oldies!
So far - fingers crossed - the new season in the vineyard has been good, with no killer frosts (a few scares though) and the wind not too damaging. The ground is very dry but hopefully a bit of rain and, if necessary, the irrigation system will be up to keeping the plants growing through flowering and into 2008.
As in past years, our cellar door is open on the weekends and public holidays. Wed love to see you here. And our discount on case lots is still on- $20 off the retail price.
Look forward to seeing you over the summer
Lucy and Roger
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