Trials and tribulations

Such a delay in posting! Sorry all. Summer and the start of 2014 have been a bruising whirlwind around Gryphonwood.

So what does one do when:

Winter and spring winds, followed by marauding escapee sheep have battered and torn apart our fledgling 777 Pinot Noir block. It is a replant job...and time for mutton.

The Tasmanian economy finally, truly, tanked. Retail (not only wine) has dried up to a trickle and I now fear for some of our customers, not to mention the cascading impact this is having on us and beyond. Our hope is that this weekend's election will see some calm come to the state soon, and give everyone a chance to recover.

The keenly awaited 2013 wines have failed to eventuate to date (we had a small yet special joy with the 2013 Pinot Gris; it is stunning, but only 15 cases!). Hopefully soon!

Mel's hip failed, Christmas eve of all times. It has been a painful and slow summer for her, and it is a basically a countdown now to a replacement. On top of that, child number one's auto immune disease is  back with a vengeance.

A tree limb came down on my car, whilst I was doing 70km/hr in it! I am stunned that it did not come through the windscreen and take my head off! Car is a little worse for wear and still awaiting repair.

Launceston's Festivale changed their strategies on wine this year and left a lot of little vineyards on the fallback list. Sadly they fell back on us only a few weeks out from the event, and there was no way we were going to be ready - so the festival season was a big non-event this year.

We find ourselves in a fight to keep our land and home, as an outside legal contest has managed to drag us into the fringes.

We got an offer to buy every case of our wine, by a big online retailer...at a price that was one third the cost of manufacture of the wine! Exactly who is profiting in the wine industry??? (we said no btw)

Something has eaten two out of three Peking ducks! Worked out they are easy pickings at night it seems...

So what does one do? Should one sit and sulk or grizzle about it? No...everyone has their troubles.

One cracks a red with family and friends, raises a glass and says 'Cheers!'

I hope your 2014 is awesome, truly.

Sampling wines on the Spirit of Tasmania

The gang at Spirit of Tasmania have put together a fantastic event called the Flavours of Tassie!

Photo care of Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spirit_of_Tasmania_I_21Feb08.JPG

It is a brilliant effort on their behalf, allowing Tasmanian producers to meet travellers on their way to and from Tasmania. 

We sailed from Tassie on the night of 29th May, and came back down on the night of the 31st. The crews of both ships made us most welcome, helping me set up in the rear lounge and bar area.

We will be back on the ship heading to Melbourne on the 26th of June and back down to Devonport on the 1st of July sailing. If you are on the ship at the same time, make sure you come and say hi!

A great Australia Day!

January 26th, Australia Day.
A day that lets us be proud of what a great place the Land Down Under is!
There are a few traditions that must be observed on Australia Day -

Small flags should be placed on your letterbox or gate/fence. A minimum of two is required.

A BBQ, over which senior males present must observe the excess charring of lamb chops. We even did our bit for multiculturalism this year - we marinated some of them with honey soy and sweet chilli!

Beer, as soon as the day gets warm, a lull in conversation, or you exert yourself in any fashion, then a beer is necessary hydration. Women may enjoy wine; Queenslanders may use ice cubes in their wine.

Music should be played, with  fair percentage of Aussie artists. In the absence of music, cricket on the telly is the other option available. Tennis may be used as an alternative if females outnumber males in the room...particularly women's matches.

Water should be mixed with children - be it a pool, at the beach or a sprinkler in the back yard. Rain may be deemed the same effect as a sprinkler.

A dog should be on hand to collect scraps of chops, or steal food from plates and people too short to hold said food safely overhead. If the dog refuses bbq scraps, it is not an Aussie dog.

Dress code may be selected from red/white/blue or green/gold. Canary yellow is an inappropriate colour.

The word 'mate' should be used frequently.



It is a good thing, to be an Australian!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful and merry Christmas and festive season!

Be safe, play fair (or cheat well)!

Love from everyone here at Gryphonwood Vineyards!

Grace's 6th Birthday!

And what a day for the adults it was! I can't remember what happened as far as party things go, but for the mums and dads a nice local cheese platter went really well with a raft of wines -

Tamar Ridge 2006 Kayena Vineyard Riesling - oh the kerosene characters! divine...

Holyman 2003 Chardonnay - like the Riesling, had lovely age character. Both these wine still have lovely acid and were by no means done! They would have held on for a good while yet.

Two bottles of Heathcote Estate 2008 Shiraz - Both lovely and still young. The second bottle we put through a Vinturi Aerator and it made such a difference!

Plantagenet 2007 Shiraz - again, the vinturi added an extra thrill to an already enjoyable drop.

Yep, the way birthday parties should be!