The weather was good but birds and bats provided a big challenge for Shoalhaven Coast vineyard owners who have faced a difficult harvest in recent weeks.
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Coolangatta Estate vigneron Greg Bishop said there were so many winged invaders interested in the prized fruit this year that the nets were not as effective as they have been in the past.
The bat population in particular seems to have exploded in the area near Shoalhaven Heads and Berry.
But despite that Coolangatta Estate still managed to pick some good quality semillon, tannat, riesling and chambourcin and truck it to the wine makers at Tyrrell's in the Hunter Valley.
Mr Bishop said they also managed to harvest enough grapes to make the popular lower alcohol style sweet wine called frizzante.
This year it is being made with cabernet, chambourcin and tannat grapes.
Frizzante has walked out the cellar door every year since Coolangatta Estate started making it in 2014.
The turnaround for frizzante is quick with bottles expected back at the cellar door by the end of April.
It will arrive around the same time as the reds from the bumper 2018 harvest when over 50 tonnes of grapes were picked by a team of around 50 people.
The white varieties such as semillon and riesling will be back in the cellar door mid year and the reds in early 2020.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
