The non-chemical solution to the problem of
snails: Happs Three Hills vineyard in
Karridale
This
Issue Organic
Farming The
insider view
New release The
1999 Three Hills Merlot
Super offer on Marrimee, our delicious
Semillon Chardonnay blend
Events
Choir amongst the vines, join us at our Dunsborough vineyard
Organic Farming, is your tucker as good as it used to be ? We
all know about the demise of the flavoursome tomato, with those pale
imitations one finds in the vegetable shop. I remember the tomato that mother
used to get from an old guy in a vacant block behind the Swan Districts
football club, when I was a kid in Bassendean. They were spotty of course, with
yellow patches in the red but the flavour……magnifique!
There is
a widespread concern that modern agriculture is getting too far away from the
ideal of producing healthy flavoursome tucker and that ‘Organic
farming’ will hopefully put things right. As a result, a
powerful initiative called ‘farmers markets’ are gaining
momentum across the Western World. They take people away from supermarkets
to meet directly with growers. Consumers support these markets because they get
to check the authenticity of what is offered and meet with the man
responsible for the growing.
Where do
I as a grape-grower and winemaker stand on these issues? Why is my
vineyard so full of weeds? Why do insist on hand harvesting the
crop? Why is there so much green fruit being trimmed off at this time of
the year a month to two months prior to harvest? Why do we still hand weed the
young vines? Why am I building, at vast expense, a kangaroo and fox proof
fence? Why do I minimise the use of sulphur dioxide and actually
make a preservative free wine? Are all organic wines low in preservative?
The answer to these questions you can find at http://www.happs.com.au/pages/organic.html
Release
of the 1999 Three Hills Merlot This month we release
the Three Hills Merlot. It has a great depth and clarity of fruit
expression, with a softness to drink young. It is benchmark wine for this
variety. ( Mailing list / Cellar Door price of $36, limit of 1 case per
customer ) You may order at http://www.virtualcellardoor.com/cgi-bin/winemenu.pl?0200 and
read more about the wine at http://www.happs.com.au/pages/3hillsMerlot.html
The
Marrimee offer We would like to make you a special offer on our
1999 'Marrimee’, a Semillon Chardonnay blend; an attractive full
flavoured wine at the peak of it's career and our biggest selling white
wine. We’ve had three bumper vintages back to back and need to clear some
space for new wines. Until further notice you can write in a price of $11 per
bottle. Send the request by carrier pigeon, phone, email, fax or smoke
signal and we will send the case to you freight free anywhere in
Choir amongst
the vines at our Dunsborough Vineyard THE REAL
SING, a choir to inspire in a concert entitled STAND BY ME, a celebration of
the 60s and 70s. Saturday 2nd March, 6pm gather on the lawn with a rug,
cushions or low chairs for a picnic with friends and taste the just
fermenting juices, 7pm the music begins. Tickets $15 at the gate or prior to
the event at cellar door. Children and pensioners $10. Wine for sale by
bottle or glass.
Have a
wonderful summer. Hope you enjoy the read.
Erl Happ