The grapes
are being pressed, albeit very gently. For a premium
vintage you want to get as close to 'free-flow' juice
as possible; 'free-flow' juice is released from the
grapes purely from their sheer weight so no pressing
is needed. You don't want to squeeze them to death;
you don't get a good wine.
The
goats are free again to graze amongst the vines until
late spring; they help with the vineyard maintenance
carried out over the winter months. The goats will
clear back rogue vegetation especially along the perimeter
of the vineyard, allowing repairs to the deer fence
to be carried out.
The vines
now get a rest, and we get a break. At least until
after Christmas, then we're back out in the vineyard
pruning out the dead wood and collecting the cuttings
for the fire.
