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Harvest 2010

Quite simply 2010 has been the best of the 15 vintages we have had to date. The fruit from all of our grape varieties were picked in excellent condition due to the extraordinarily dry summer and autumn we have had. We were able to "hang" the fruit for as long as we liked to get optimal ripeness, and having no pressure from the weather made for a very relaxed and enjoyable vintage. All of which means that the red wines from 2010 should have great depth of colour and flavour, ripe tannins, full mouthfeel, and long silky finishes. The whites should be fruity with intense aromas and flavours. For wines from the Matakana region and more generally from the Auckland region and further north, 2010 will be a year to watch out for.

Hello Albarino

Don't be alarmed if you notice some rather ill-looking vines or an empty area in the vineyard next time you visit. We are removing some sections of the existing vineyard to make way for an exciting new grape variety - ALBARINO, pronounced al-bar-een-yo.

Albarino is a white grape from Galicia, the Atlantic coastal province of Spain just north of the border with Portugal. Wines made from the Albarino grape have been establishing a big presence in Europe in recent years. It makes full-bodied wine, which can have the richness of chardonnay but with a great balancing act in the form of a very nice acid structure. All of which makes for a great seafood wine. The Spanish reckon it is the world's best shellfish and crustacea wine, but the rest of Europe seems to consider it pretty splendid with any form of seafood.

Well now the grape has arrived in New Zealand. Albarino vines have been planted at the end of 2009 for the first time - just a handful of vineyards have been allocated some vines, including Ransom Wines. In fact we are the only vineyard north of Gisborne to have planted the grape, and we expect that along with two or three other wineries, we will be producing New Zealand's first ever Albarino wine, possibly in 2011 but definitely in 2012. We have planted a small block so far, but in order to make space in the vineyard for the main plantings of Albarino next spring, we will be culling some of the lesser performing clones and varieties.

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Random Ransom Ramblings
Read selected items from past newsletters and wine articles written by Robin -

Ransom Wines K Syrah Release and Sponsorship of TOSSI

The Season for Reds - June 2009

Living the Dream - May 2009

Coming up Rosés - April 2009

The global economic recession - It's not all bad - March 2009

Sunny Skies, Black Clouds, Silver Linings - Februay 2009

Pinot Gris - January 2009

Syrah - November 2008

Wine Competitions - October 2008

Compliance Issues - September 2008

Art, thought and wine - Sublime Inspiration - August 2008

Health and Pleasure - is wine good for you? - July 2008

Looking back at Vintage 2008 - June 2008

Ever wondered how we decide when to pick? April 2008

Protecting ourselves from Bird Burglars - February 2008

Early Summer in the Vineyard - The Promise of Things to Come - December 2007

Compliance Fatigue - November 2007

Matakana Terroirists - September 2007

From Noah to Matakana - A 6000 Year Wine Trail - August 2007

Wine and the New Zealand Economy - July 2007

Vintage in Matakana - May 2007

Wine Exports - Matakana Wines to the World - March 2007

Sustainable Practice - Winegrowing with Integrity

- February 2007

"The Wither Hills Debacle" - Wine Scandal - January 2007

Busting a Few Myths - November 2006

Spring - Here We Go Again - October 2006

Strong Support for Local Wines - September 2006