WELCOME

Almost at the end of Spring, and 2024. Isn’t it amazing how fast the year has gone!

Spring this year has provided a roller-coaster of warm and cold conditions, complicating aspects of the vineyard growth and we describe more below.

Recently we have had some great medal wins and have released our new sparkling Cabernet, which visitors are loving.

Almost Christmas and below we provide some ideas for those difficult to decide gifts.

SPRING IN THE VINEYARD

Splitting the Canopy in our special trellissing system

Budburst came early by two to three weeks this year, bringing with it positives and negatives. While it is good to get the season underway, having an early start results in the risk from frost and the need to ensure good moisture levels in the soil coming out of winter.

We were hit by a frost on 16 September which burnt off some of the just-opened leaves as well as some primary buds. This was more significant in the lower parts of the vineyard including the Sangiovese and the Arneis.

Cold conditions immediately after the frost event then held further budburst and growth back for a while but in October things really started to move. The result of these events will decrease yield in the vineyard and likely make it a bit more difficult to manage foliage throughout the growing season. The lower yield may help in the intensity of flavours of this year’s crop, noting that there is a long way to go yet.

Now in mid November with days in the mid 20 degrees, the vines are moving very quickly. Secondary buds emerged and we will have to monitor the density of foliage that will be produced, with some shoot thinning necessary to keep the canopy open.

Flowering has now commenced – again just over two weeks earlier than our norm (if there is a “norm” these years), so we will be planning for an early harvest this season – certainly commencing in the last half of February 2025.

NEW RELEASES

2022 Adela Sparkling Cabernet

Yes we have released our beautiful 2022 Adela. Just in time for Christmas! It is great with Christmas dinner or lunch as well as Christmas cake or Christmas pudding. Great with just about anything at that time of the year!

Produced from very ripe Cabernet fruit and then kept in oak for over a year before entering the traditional sparkling wine process, this sparkling red provides intense berry flavours with a very structured backbone.

MORE MEDALS

Photo courtesy of Nicole McLeod Photography

We entered just a few wines in the Canberra and Region Wine Show this year and are really happy with our medal wins, particularly the ongoing recognition by judges of the quality of our Pinot Noir. We won:

Gold Medal for our 2023 Pinot Noir

Silver Medal for our 2022 Marsanne

Bronze Medal for our 2023 Sangiovese

ETHIOPIA ON NORTHBOUNE OPENS

Girmay and Elsa Abraham have opened up their new restaurant Ethiopia on Northbourne recently, serving their amazing Ethiopian cuisine.

Our Pankhurst name is very famous in Ethiopia historically and we are pleased to work with Girmay and Elsa in providing our wines to accompany their beautiful dishes. We recommend their restaurant to our readers. Try their Beyaynetu, large share plates of various Ethiopian dishes on a bed of traditional injera.

Find them at : https://ethiopianonnorthbourne.com.au/

65 Northbourne Ave., Canberra City

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS OPENING HOURS

This year we will be having a break with family over the Christmas/New Year period and will open again on 4th January 2025.

We wish everyone all the very best for Christmas and the coming year.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

A few ideas for Christmas gifts:

Gift Vouchers

A structured wine tasting and cheese platter for two ($60)

A selection of wine up to a value of your choice ($You choose)

Vouchers are available at the cellar door or you can phone or email us.

Wine

Choose any wines, either at Cellar Door or via our website, Or buy a gift voucher for someone to select their choice. Discounts for VIP members.

Merchandise

We have a variety of merchandise items at Cellar Door. Come out and have a look.

Wooden platters, coffee tables and other wooden items crafted         from retired wine barrels

Caps and T-shirts and other fun wine stuff.

JOIN OUR VIP CLUB

Our VIP six-packs and twelve-packs will be going out soon. We will contact members soon on preferred wines in those packs.

Being a VIP Club member allows you to:

Receive wines on a regular basis – you can determine how often, and how many bottles of what wines you want;

A 10% discount on six-bottle purchases and 15% on case purchases;

Have free freight on purchases of six bottles or more; and

Receive invitations to any special tastings or events.

Join the club via  https://pankhurstwines.com.au/v-i-p-club/