I did not realise when I mentioned the ‘Ruta do Viño’ bus tour the other day, that the programme of visits is actually much more extensive than I first thought. Apart from the Bodegas that are included on the bus tour itinerary there are also a number of other wineries that are offering visits, specifically tailored around the harvest. These are of course guided tours, sometimes limited to groups of no less than 6 or 8 people, always by appointment, and….. in many cases, there is a small entry fee! From my own point of view I’m afraid to say that even with all these pre-conditions I wouldn’t really welcome tour groups during our harvest. It’s not that we are particularly unsociable (as I would like to think that those who do visit us are always extended a warm welcome), it’s simply that there are so many things going on, many of which can be unpredictable. I simply wouldn’t want to tie myself down with a bus, or even carload of visitors – it would just be too distracting.

Having said all that, I do hope that we actually have a harvest this year – the weather, I have to report, has really turned against us. After months of fine weather we are now experiencing heavy rain and high winds. I was on the phone only the other day to one of our contacts in the States when I used the expression “the lull before the storm” in my conversation. What I really meant by this was that with everything now ready we are simply sitting back waiting for the optimum time to start picking, rather than implying that there was actually some seriously bad weather on the way. Unfortunately, in the end, we got the latter.

The good news is that the state of the fruit before the rain was extremely healthy, which, in the first instance, will certainly help to slow down the potential onset of any disease. The only problem might be is that if this inclement weather persists then the juice could be a little diluted. Our vigil continues……

I did not realise when I mentioned the ‘Ruta do Viño’ bus tour the other day, that the programme of visits is actually much more extensive than I first thought. Apart from the Bodegas that are included on the bus tour itinerary there are also a number of other wineries that are offering visits, specifically tailored around the harvest. These are of course guided tours, sometimes limited to groups of no less than 6 or 8 people, always by appointment, and….. in many cases, there is a small entry fee! From my own point of view I’m afraid to say that even with all these pre-conditions I wouldn’t really welcome tour groups during our harvest. It’s not that we are particularly unsociable (as I would like to think that those who do visit us are always extended a warm welcome), it’s simply that there are so many things going on, many of which can be unpredictable. I simply wouldn’t want to tie myself down with a bus, or even carload of visitors – it would just be too distracting.

Having said all that, I do hope that we actually have a harvest this year – the weather, I have to report, has really turned against us. After months of fine weather we are now experiencing heavy rain and high winds. I was on the phone only the other day to one of our contacts in the States when I used the expression “the lull before the storm” in my conversation. What I really meant by this was that with everything now ready we are simply sitting back waiting for the optimum time to start picking, rather than implying that there was actually some seriously bad weather on the way. Unfortunately, in the end, we got the latter.

The good news is that the state of the fruit before the rain was extremely healthy, which, in the first instance, will certainly help to slow down the potential onset of any disease. The only problem might be is that if this inclement weather persists then the juice could be a little diluted. Our vigil continues……