Frequently asked questions

Why do you use screw caps on your wine bottles?
An increased amount of wine is being contaminated by cork taint, leaving the wine tasting musty and dull. This can spoil up to one in 10 bottles. Screw caps remove the risk of cork taint, the threat of sporadic oxidation and are not affected by humidity. They provide a reliable long-term seal allowing for the proper ageing of the wine. Screw caps are cost-effective, allow for vertical storing of bottles, and are easy to open and reseal.

You refer to terroir when discussing wine production. What does this mean?
Terroir is the French word for 'soil', but when applied to wine it has a broader definition referring to the range of conditions that apply to the growth and ripening of grapes in a specific region. This takes into account soil, elevation, slope, aspect, climate and seasonal weather patterns.

What do you mean when you say that the vines are moving into véraison?
Véraison is a French term, but has been adopted into the English literature on viticulture. The official definition of véraison is 'change of colour of the grape berries'. Véraison signifies the change from berry growth to berry ripening in grapevines.

Why is wine stored in oak barrels before bottling?
Wine has to ferment and age before it is ready to drink and the use of oak barrels has stemmed from tradition. The process of fermentation in wine is the catalyst function that turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. Fermentation may also be done in stainless steel tanks, which is common with many white wines. Wine aged in small new oak barrels takes on some of the compounds in the barrel, such as vanillin and wood tannins. Oak has a demonstrated compatibility with wine over other wood types. Barrel aged wines are generally a little more complex and have a more interesting texture than those aged in tanks.

Do you plan to release more varieties?
We will have a Rosé ready for release in the Spring of 2008 and a sparkling Blanc de Blanc is planned for 2010.