Monthly Report - December 2017

Visitors always welcome by appointment at Blue Poles – Megan and Leah Dec 2017

 

One of the problems we do face is that we have very little wine to sell, as the last three releases have been sold out (or very nearly sold out) within a few days of the release.  So, if you do wish to come in for a tasting it really is important that you indicate if you would like to purchase some wines, such that it gives us an opportunity to get a couple of cases in for purchase if required.

 

Last week I had several visitors come through, and one couple was from America (in a round-about way) who had sourced the tasting at Blue Poles via Mike Bennie of The Wine Front.

 

Discussing our wines in a relaxed setting with a few bottles opened is a great way to while away a couple of hours.  And during the afternoon with Leah and Megan, I noted that over the years there has been so much that has happened that for someone that rocks up and wants to know the history of Blue Poles, it actually is pretty long winded now.  From the discussion the history of Tim and I, how we found the vineyard and the reason for the site and the geology supporting that, the varieties planted and where they originated and why they were selected, the name of the vineyard, the name of the wines, the philosophy behind the wines, and without making the list miles long, the taste of the wines.

 

I sort of forget that there is so much to discuss now, and that we have generated our own “history”.  It still feels very much a blur when you are in the heart of it, but looking back there has been so much work and time spent getting to this point I have sort of melded all of this together into a bit of a Groundhog Day type of memory.  Having these monthly reports is a blessing in a way – though I have never thought as much when I am looking at the flickering cursor on a blank white document – as it is easy now for both Tim and I to see where we have come from and to have a form of diary in place.  Also, we should start planning around some milestones such that we can thank many of our friends and customers (many of which are now one and the same), so this could be our first New Year resolution to match in with the “exercise more and lose weight” mantra that gets dragged out each 31 December.

 

As I tend to ramble on about all sorts of unrelated tales while chatting with visitors, it should be noted that the aim at Blue Poles is always to make great wine.  I am not aiming for good or consistent, I am looking for great.  I think our site has the capacity to make great wines, and as each year passes with the reduction of irrigation and the age of the vines which aids in the regulation of the yields I think we have a chance of achieving that aim.  If this was not the aim I do not think I would spend the effort I do to make sure the vineyard is tended to the highest standard in the hope that the weather gods let the vines prosper.

 

So, if you are planning a pilgrimage to Margaret River please do not hesitate to contact us prior to departure.  Hopefully we will be around and able to host you at the vineyard, and fingers crossed there is some excellent booze in a bottle for you all.  Cheers.

 

Summer haze...

 

There is nothing I can really complain about with the weather this past month.  We have had on average a warm month (a little above my recorded average for December of 24.6oC since 2005), and the rain we had was 90% from a deluge over 3 days in mid-December which did not affect the flowering or vines health in any way.  Sea breeze has arrived on schedule most days and the skies have been clear and blue since the rain has departed.

 

The numbers for the month and last year’s figures are provided below:

 

December 2017:        

Avg Maximum Temp          25.1°C

Daily Max recorded            34.0°C

 

Avg Minimum Temp           13.1°C

Daily Min recorded               5.2°C

 

Rainfall:                               61.4mm

 

The maximum temperature average this month was again much warmer than last year, with the minimum average this year also being higher.  The rainfall total is double last years with there being a major frontal system coming through on the 17-19 December this year, against a more lighter series of rainfall totals in 2016.

 

December 2016:        

Avg Maximum Temp           24.2°C

Daily Max recorded             36.7°C

 

Avg Minimum Temp            11.9°C

Daily Min recorded               6.3°C

 

Rainfall:                               35.8mm

 

 

Wedding bells…

 

And for the second time within 12 months another wedding is on the schedule with my eldest daughter Hannah marrying her long-term partner and fiancé Tom in Margaret River.  We have friends and family coming from far and wide, with Tim and Yuko also coming across with their children, which is always great to open a few bottles with them amongst the vines.  My one-man battle against the growth of 10,000 vines continues, and by the time I depart for work at the end of the month all will be in readiness for the nets and the eventual vintage in March.  The next three months is a bit of a race to get things done before the hand brake comes on, with the vines safely under the nets and wary eyes look to the skies.

 

As always if you have any queries about what’s been written or about wine in general, do not hesitate to contact us either by email or www.twitter.com/bluepoles and we’ll do our very best to answer any question.

 

Cheers

 

 

Mark Gifford

Blue Poles Vineyard