Drinking Wine Is The Easy Part.

October is wine harvesting time and full of activities.

Don't you just love traditions? I do. There is something soothing to know that certain things are done at the same time, year after year. It gives me a sense of permanence which is one of the most sought after commodities for an emi & immigrant. Or to put it simply, putting down roots.

We are into our fourth year in Burgenland ( or as I like to think of it, wine mecca ) and the mystery of how to make wine is making space for knowledge of how to make wine. Bob and I have mastered the lower rungs of the wine making ladder.

Such as the tedious cleaning ritual after every chore associated with making wine, which Team BiggiBob have mastered rather well. Working with a powerful water hose is second nature to us. Well maybe not so much as both of us tend to look like drowned rats afterwards.

Oh, don't feel sorry for me. It is such a privilege to have access to the inner workings of a vineyard. Before any bottle of wine gets filled, a great sequence of events takes place.

The amazing wine made in our area is almost as nature intended it to be. No added flavours needed except maybe a wooden barrel. When you drink our local wine, headaches never happen. That heavy limb feeling the day after a long dinner party...not here!

The Eisenberg hills have a mineral rich soil and a lot of the grapes have this heavenly mixture of minerals as their nourishment. One or two vineyards are joining the organic culture and as nice as our wine already is...the future vintages will taste even more divine.

Here are a few photos taken of the various stages of making wine. They are not in sequence and taken over the last three years.

This is at the end of harvesting day. The freshly picked bunches of grapes get de-stemmed but often little stems get through the goal post. Never mind, Biggi is here to pick them out. Standing at that angle for an hour is worth it when you get to taste the end result. Less stems, better flavour.

Filtering the wine is done a few month down the road. But what a great colour...

The de-stemming machine needs an attentive attendant. Those blades turning could take your fingers off!

Bob at work pressing the grapes...

My Mum & Bob manning the press!

The pressed result. Not yet wine but not grape juice either. I love this deep red colour.
Life in a wine making area is great fun. Everyone loves to talk, drink and tell you about their wine experience. Three cheers for Burgenland and its many interesting facets.

Biggi