Stories

Discover more about the processes, partnerships, and people that shape my journey

2021 harvest loss

2021 harvest loss

a car wheel, a pump, and my nerves


Harvest is a relentless reminder that no matter how much you plan, things will go wrong, it's how you handle the breakdowns that define the season.

We were picking Sauvignon Blanc on a Sunday morning, the early hours in Etyek still thick with mist. We set out in two cars, the air brisk with the promise of a long day ahead. I was trailing behind, a quiet observer as I navigated the winding roads, my eyes occasionally drifting toward the vineyards as we passed. I hadn’t even made it out of the country road when my phone rang. “We’ve got a little problem…” A wave of tension hit me instantly. Even in the busiest of harvests, those words are enough to make anyone’s pulse spike.


2021 Harvest Report

2021 Harvest Report

The year of refinement


The 2021 harvest has been a challenging yet rewarding journey, with sparkling wine showing particular potential.

Harvest always arrives like a long-anticipated houseguest. You’re excited to see them, but completely drained by the time they leave. In a typical year, we prepare for two intense weeks. This harvest stretched on for more than thirty days. Somewhere around day twenty, I lost all sense of time, feeling, and lumbar integrity. But now, standing in the cellar surrounded by fermenters quietly working away, I find myself foolishly hopeful.