What are the grape vines doing for xmas?

Summer is in full swing in the vineyard as the guys are busy shoot thinning and shoot positioning as the first signs of the next years harvest beging to show up on the vines.

Currently the vines are flowering which can be seen here. This event starts with the opening of the individual flowers, pollen being liberated and ovules becoming fertilised.

Fertilisiation leads to berries being set and the caps on the small berries dropping off. This can be seen below in our Clone 115 Pinot noir.

Currently we are between 50 and 90% through flowering across the estate.

Speaking of flowering, the wild flowers are popping up all over the vineyard which not only keeps the bees happy but looks pretty good.

While in the winery the little bugs (Oenococcus oeni ) seen below have finished their job in the Pinot noirs.