Picture this: A restaurant table close to a Cape Town beach to find a bit of a breeze in the heatwave. A plate of fresh seafood. And a wine glass with white wine so cold the condensation drops are visible from a distance, perhaps even with a – usually abominable – ice block clinking as you are drinking.
Except to realise what incredible effort was put into that glass of wine. Especially if it is a local Sauvignon Blanc, that, with its inherent zingy liveliness, probably beats the heat the best.
Realising that effort is happening under the same scorching sun is mind-boggling though.
But it is true. Whether because of using sectional harvesting techniques or making the most of the sunshine to increase sugar levels and concentrate flavours, wine farms in and around Cape Town including Cape Point Vineyards are currently in their harvest season.
Stick(y) your hands in there
Spending some time in a vineyard gives you the following insights:
That the “first 200 years of winemaking is the hardest” isn’t a joke, it is true.
Huge efforts like defoliation (cutting away vine leaves) or spacing can backfire. And that is before any primary winemaking techniques, in which a great deal can go wrong, is executed.
Our feathered friends can also be foes. Every bird beak that pricks a berry spoils it and makes for extra work to remove the berry from the bunch. Tying reflective ribbons to the vines can help. But only if the wind is blowing.
Harvesters are heroes. Hand-harvesting is the preferred method for many farms, in the Western Cape to ensure the best quality, healthy grapes are used. The same group of harvesters typically also yearly returns to the farm. Like Paddington Kotamu who has harvested at Cape Point Vineyard since he was 18.
His advice: “Don’t think. Don’t look too far ahead. Just keep going.”
Paddington Kotamu is leading the team of harvesters at Cape Point Vineyards. Image: Anél Naudé
Busy hands, quiet mind
Once you follow his advice, it really becomes a grounding experience. Your eyes differentiating between different tones of green and hands becoming more agile. The accurate aim to keep filling the black crate.
Thinking slows down. Thoughts about how the grapes that must reach a certain level of sweetness to be ready for harvest. The spiritual significance of a vineyard and abiding.
And about having that glass of ice cold Sauvignon Blanc.
This article has been sourced from various publicly available news platforms around the world. All intellectual property rights remain with the original publishers and authors. Unshared News does not claim ownership of the content and provides it solely for informational and educational purposes voluntarily. If you are the rightful owner and believe this content has been used improperly, please contact us for prompt removal or correction.
