AUTUMN 2022 NEWSLETTER — First Ridge Wines

THOUGHTS FROM THE CELLAR DOOR

Our cellar door is the perfect vantage point to admire the colours of Autumn in the vineyard and the surrounding landscape, while enjoying a glass of First Ridge wine, and with the Autumn temperatures dropping, our visitors will soon be enjoying our tastings in front of our cosy wood fire.

The cellar door has been very busy over Easter and the school holiday period and we’ve enjoyed greeting many returning customers and new customers alike over the holiday break.

Our decision to open the cellar door seven days a week to welcome Sydney visitors back post Lockdown, has been well received. We’ve also found that people’s travel routines have changed and as a result we’ve enjoyed increased midweek visitor numbers.

We’re excited to have a full range of wines on tasting including our first Montepulciano and a new Italian varietal blend we’ve named Marco. Marco is 50/50 Barbera and Sangiovese and it, along with our Montepulciano are already proving to be popular!

Our most popular white wine at the cellar door has been our lovely 2021 Fiano.

As we now look to enjoy a few red wines during the cooler weather, our 2019 Barbera is proving to be our most popular red wine, followed by our 2021 Sangiovese.

See you at the Cellar Door!
Graeme and the Team

Vintage 2022 Notes

We zigged, we zagged. It rained and it shone and despite the rollercoaster ride that was 2022 the grapes that arrived into the winery were clean and delicious. A later than ‘normal’ harvest this year due the cooler and wetter growing season has resulted in grapes that have retained their natural acidity and brightness. The whites are crisp and varietal and the reds are showing amazing colour and flavour in the early stages of fermentation.

In what would be considered a difficult grape growing Vintage I am pleased to be able to provide a good news story and I can confidently say that the First Ridge wine style and quality will be maintained.

James Manners – Wine Maker

Viticulture Report

A very tough 2022 vintage for the Mudgee region and most other regions in New South Wales. As a result of high rain fall the disease pressure was extreme.

Fortunately our vineyard site is quite high, with well drained soils and ventilated canopies, and as a result doesn’t hold excess moisture, features that assisted our management and control of diseases.

Harvesting commenced early on the 18th of February and was completed by early April. The yields were a little lower than the average due to the small berry size and bunch weights.

Not withstanding frequent rain events, we managed to pick all our fruit close to optimal parameters required by our winemaker, so we’re looking forward to tasting the fruits of his labour!

Paul Baguley