September grapes

The pungent yeasty smell of emptying wine barrels is in the air, as last years dregs are discarded.  The first grapes have been harvested in our area and the barrels have been cleaned and sterilised ready for this seasons vintage.

The weather forecast is for fair weather .  Temperatures have been high this last week.  The grapes are sweetening.  Inspections take place daily.  There is no rain on the horizon but the wasps and hornets are already enjoying that boozy sweetness and could ruin a good crop.

Vaso's family is gathering, first to pick the white grapes and about a week later, the red.  There is rebellion in the air this year.  Vaso is no longer supreme ruler.  She wants to wait another week, the 'childen' want to pick now.  One of them wants to go on holiday next week with his family and the other has a daughter returning to overseas study and wants to spend time with her.  They'll probably harvest towards the end of the week.

The grapes will picked in one morning, brought up to 'Estate Vaso'  on the back of the old farm 'ute' and must be pressed the next day.

Wine is very important to the Greeks.  Around here many households have a small piece of land where grape vines are lovingly cultivated, looked after  and harvested.  The grapes are made into wine for consumption by the family during the next year.

There was an extremely unpopular tax added to wine during the crisis.  The government is now promising to revoke the tax which has slowed sales and increased business on the black market.

Greeks have been drinking and trading in wine for over 4,000 years.   Scattered on the seabed around wrecks of ancient trading ships are always shards of the huge pottery amphora used to transport the wine.

Soon we'll all be high on the smell of fermenting juice as all our neighbours begin this years vintage.