Well we have found a great place in Lewes but are far from securing it so looking forward to a free-spririted and somewhat adventurous few weeks traveling around the South West (and crashing at friends). True friends really does stand out in time of need. It should be fun.
In the midst of bank holiday packing we got a text from a winemaker who happens to be in town - Mr. Niels Verburg of Luddite; a great Shiraz (soon to add Chenin Blanc to his stable) producer from Botrivier, South Africa.
A statuesque guy we (with we I mean my partner - the head chef of the house) thought we'd cook up a storm. With our last large and happy chicken from Moens' and all the leftovers from our freezer we got worried it would'nt be enough. So a starter was added and some cheese, and chocolate, and ice cream. But more importantly we decided to try our luck at some dusty bottles in the rack - a 2005 Chateau Bellegrave, Pomerol (which should be nice and fresh), a 2000 Domaine Rouche du Moines , Savennieres (known to have the chi to stay young for long) and a (most likely knackered) 2001 Dromana Estate Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula.
It turned out the Bordeaux was dead, stripped of fruit, the Chenin deep golden and developed with the help of a bad cork whilst the Chardonnay, sang of purity and lusciousness; limes, mango, orange peel, a nice little lift of VA and even a little something reminiscent of noble rot(?).
And the winemaker? He wasn't a big eater. Go figure.
Speaking of Niels.
As always when I find myself in the vicinity of a producer I try to take the opportunity to ask questions, like "how did you start" etc. It was interesting to hear that he started studying grape growing before his mother suggested he'd learn wine making as well. Even more interesting was that if he were to do it all over again - he wouldn't have studied at all. Rather spent the years working in as many wineries as possible. "At College you have a teacher to turn to when things go wrong - in real life you don't." At the sight of his first load of grapes to make wine of he apparently felt totally lost.
I will definitely take that in to account upon starting my journey. Therefor fitting in as much vintages as possible between semesters seems ideal.
Another thing about him that encourages my chances to ever make my own wine is that he began with buying grapes from other growers rather than waiting till he could plant his own or buy a vineyard. He still does not use 100% own-grown grapes in his red. It's a transition.
Unless I win the lottery. This way may just have to be my way.
Charlotte x
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