Posted on: Matt Fowles's wall

To our wonderful Naked followers,

I wanted you to be some of the first to know that things have changed a little around our place...

Not the least of which... We have a shiny new name: Fowles Wine!

Sam Plunkett has decided to become master of his own destiny and, fingers crossed, a Master of Wine. I look forward to watching him succeed!

On the other hand, my team and I have been busy in the vineyard doing everything we can to ensure an outstanding vintage. Yields look to be light, so I am tipping a great year if the weather holds...

We have some more exciting news which will break soon - we are planning to launch a new range of wines that fall under the Ladies who Shoot their Lunch range... A prize for the first who can guess what it will be called?

Hope you're all well!

Best, Matt

Matt 10:43 01/02/2012 Comment

Posted on: Jock Harvey's wall

We started picking a couple of nights ago, first time weve picked iN January
, this is because the crops are light and we've had a classic year, wet winters, mild spring and a few hot days in summer. 2012 will go down as a classic. On Sunday night it was still in the mid twenties around midnight when Nadal and Jocovik were playing their epic final at the Australian Open, I was picking Chardonnay around midnight when a shower of rain came through, the fruit tasted like pineapple and with a warm night and a shower of rain it felt more like Asia than McLaren Vale. We'll be picking the Savignan for Jacko's Leap in a couple of weeks, drink up, drink safe

Jock 12:38 31/01/2012 Comment

Posted on: Jock Harvey's wall

I had a question from Simon about where I farm in relation to the Hunter Valley, we are a 16 hour drive south. The best way to have a good look around is to go onto Google Earth and take a tour of McLaren Vale

Jock 21:31 23/01/2012 Comment

Posted on: Jock Harvey's wall

Theres a great beach not far from the vineyards called Port Willunga, it was 37 degrees today and there was a great red sunset across the water, full of people on the last week of school holidays, the water was calm, almost the perfect evening. We start picking at the end of the week as the Chardonnay is getting ripe on the shallow soils, it's going to be one of the best vintages in a long time, smaller berries and a light crop.

Jock 13:07 23/01/2012 Comment

Posted on: Jock Harvey's wall

Its coming to the end of the working week and the vineyard guys have just knocked off and had a BBQ and a few cold beers, It's 34 degrees and clear blue skys. Needless to say its been a busy year, within a few weeks the red grapes will move to veraison and start to develop some colour, we'll get the harvesters ready and we will be picking in about 8 weeks.
But Sunday is Christmas and I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you all a safe holiday and enjoy the time with family and friends. 2011 is nearly done and we roll into another year that will be shorter than the last - So whats a good New Years Resolution - Pay a little more, drink better wine and drink a little less - find some interesting wines made by real people.
Lastly - thank you all for your support and your comments, thank you to the Naked Team for putting me into contact with you all.
Best wished - Jock

Jock 03:45 23/12/2011 Comment