French Winemakers at the Wolseley Winery
Friday, 10 July 2009 10:00
Seven young French backpackers descended on the Wolseley winery for this year's harvest. Three of them hail from the province of Alsace and two are qualified vignerons. Even more remarkably they each come from neighbouring families who have been growing and making wine for 400 years.
This remarkable depth of experience which is really a cultural depth, was great to experience at our winery. Will was frequently about to issue instructions for this or that task, only to find that it was already done with no fuss at all.
Sebastian Mann whose own winery in Alsace is organic, took charge of the Chardonnay and some remarkable wine has evolved from his care. Stay tuned for a real beauty for ’09. Yannick Meckert, compatriot vigneron of Sebastian, was also a key and expert part of the vintage.
Plans are already afoot to repeat this visit next year and also do exchange visits during the next French harvest. The “French team” has made a versatile and important contribution to the Wolseley Winery and we will miss them and their cheery and relaxed energy when they leave for home in July and their own harvest for ’09. Special thanks need to also go to Roman and Mathieu for their skills at the new Pizza oven and even steelframe installation.
Versatile boys …who have helped to bring our great new facility to a state of readiness.
