Summer Memories

I am presently shivering in chilly London so it was great to receive this video today that was filmed last August at the Bodega during the Botani pressing. And as you can see, I am wearing the “Vendimia Vestido”.

Sanlúcar de Barrameda

Wistfully looking back at a brief summer getaway I took in July, just before the vendimia started. It was my first visit to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, but it won’t be my last. Such a beautiful beachside village with some of the best seafood you can find anywhere. I had the very best tortillitas de camerones that I’d ever had in my life at Casa Balbino, along with some Barbiano manzanilla (sherry). It was a perfect summer daytrip – and on motorbike too!

La Vendimia 2010

The vendimia (grape harvest) is now well underway. We first start picking the grapes for Botani before the sugar content gets too high. Above you can see some images from the vineyards. The grapes are picked on the steep slopes of the mountain and carried up to footpaths where they are loaded onto our mule Romero. They are then taken to the collecting station on the main road and from there are brought by small vans to the winery to be pressed.

This year we are fortunate to have Belinda Thomson assisting in the winemaking process. Belinda was just nominated as one of the 8 best winemakers in Australia.

So far the weather has been on our side and the grapes this season are beautiful, so we are hoping for one of our best harvests ever.