How quickly we move from the grey short cold days of winter dormancy (for vine, not custodian) to the green lengthening warm days of spring. From the bud burst of mid September to the elongating shoots of October it is our most frantic time in the vineyard. Mowing, cultivating under vine, applying sulphur, fish and seaweed […]
The task of winter pruning is upon us and forecasts of hail and snow are giving cause for digging deep into the winter clothing. Thermals are a must. The last of the 2013s are bottled and we will have news of these wines late in July. Suffice to say that despite the crop being 30% […]
Frost. Hail. Cold. Dry. Hot. Fire. Dear me. The romanticism of grape growing and wine making is being tested continually at every stage of this gruelling season. Yes, of course, we are well versed in the various ways the weather can affect the crop quality and quantity and we are always prepared for some of […]
After a winter that gifted us 14 frosts, plenty of rain and some biting, blustery weather we have broken through into an early Spring break. Whilst the drenching of warmth and the invitation to the birds to bring us musical cheer is lovely the less pleasing aspect is the vines’ buds pushing early and possibly […]
Wines on Offer We are offering the 2012 Bindi Composition Chardonnay, 2012 Bindi Composition Pinot Noir and 2012 Pyrette Heathcote Shiraz for immediate purchase and delivery. We are also offering the 2012 Bindi Quartz Chardonnay, 2012 Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2012 Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir as a pre-release offer (with credit card […]
BILL D.S. DHILLON 2/10/1937 – 26/1/2013 Bill Dhillon, founder of Gisborne Squash Courts (1972) and Bindi Vineyard (1988), passed on January 26th aged 75. Bill was born in Punjab in northern India in the small farming village Bahman Wala, just to the south of Amritsar. His name was Darshan Singh Dhillon. He would be dubbed ‘Bill’ […]
A spring of sorts is emerging after a bitterly cold and wet winter. A rather nostalgic three months it has been. If a little confronting, not unwelcome. At this time of year we hold high hopes. Vines pruned and prepared. Old canes mulched back into the soil, new canes layered along the wire ready to […]
After a real sumer then a real autumn we are really having a proper winter! Cold, wet and windy in Gisborne was a norm that was disrupted by the decade long drought. This uncomfortable nostalgia is welcome for vine dormancy and soil moisture but makes for robust pruning conditions which ensure we draw upon the […]
We are currently releasing 2011 Bindi Composition Pinot Noir, 2011 Bindi Composition Chardonnay, 2011 Pyrette Heatcote Shiraz and a mixed six pack of Bindi Sparkling Museum Stock. To order, please click here. A quick note on the just completed 2012 harvest and season. The spring of 2011 indicated we were in for a similar season […]
A quick note on the just completed 2012 harvest and season. The spring of 2011 indicated we were in for a similar season to that that led up to the 2011 harvest; rain and humidity and very slow ripening. Things changed, however, and changed again and again. December saw cold, windy weather disrupt the flowering […]