Harvest Newsletter: Insights from Richard Kershaw on 2023 Vintage

Hello wine enthusiasts,

we have successfully concluded the 2023 harvest, yielding some fantastic results! Despite the challenges faced, this vintage has brought promising prospects for Kershaw Wines.

After a dry winter, a wet spring allowed the vines to thrive in the nourishing soil. At one stage, we feared that the harvest would once again be delayed like in previous years. However, the warm weeks of December and January accelerated growth, and the grapes ripened quicker than expected. The entire harvest took place an impressive three weeks ahead of time.

February and March brought cooler weather that raised concerns about the grapes. However, the mild conditions of January allowed the soils to retain moisture from the rain, aiding the recovery of the vines, particularly the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

While we anticipated a later harvest, we managed to bring in our grapes two weeks earlier than planned, and the aromas are astonishing! These wines are fruity with marvelous acidity that lifts them from the glass.

March's cooler temperatures forced us to trim the leaves of our late-ripening varieties like Syrah to ensure sufficient light and airflow.

The cool and damp conditions limited photosynthesis, prompting us to visit the vineyards more frequently to monitor ripening.

This approach will likely yield a remarkable balance in our Syrah.

Despite the challenges posed by the wet weather, the Syrah has a lower alcohol level, leading to fresher and more vibrant wines. This will highlight the stylistic differences compared to Shiraz beautifully.

I take immense pride in the dedication and hard work shown by our team during the entire harvest. They performed outstandingly even when faced with these challenges.

I can hardly wait to share our wines with you and raise a glass to celebrate the success of the 2023 harvest.

Cheers, Richard