At a time in Australia when many people have suffered traumatic loss of property, livelihoods and even family members, it is appropriate to put into context our own situation as a residential and working vineyard.

Our unique position as a cooperatively owned boutique wine producer in the Hunter Valley allows us to make decisions that may be more difficult for bigger commercial wineries who depend for their very existence on continual cash flow from their wine production.

The good news is that we have suffered no permanent damage to property, infrastructure or the vineyard. We have been inconvenienced by smoke, concerned by the threat of bushfire in the Hunter region and have now dealt with several torrential rain events. The dams are full again.

The bad news is that we will have a very tiny vintage and wine production year. We tested our fruit, using the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) facilities and made our harvesting decisions based on scientific evidence. The reality is that smoke taint has affected almost all our fruit, from the whites through the reds. We decided to pick only very specific parcels of fruit.

We are not making any white wines from Kelman fruit this year, but we will release a wine made from already fermented juice that predates the bushfires. More on that as we progress through the year.

We have made a small batch of Rosé from our Tempranillo and Shiraz grapes. Minimum time on skins should result in a light, dry style of wine perfectly suited to our climate. The short skin contact time will reduce the risk of smoke taint. This fermented juice will be tested and tasted again before bottling and only if we are 100% confident of zero smoke taint will we release it to our owners and the public.

Our Tempranillo fruit tested well – and in fact the AWRI has almost no historical data on this grape variety at the moment – so we have also made a small batch. Again, it will only be released following careful testing.

It was hugely disappointing to see wonderful bunches of absolutely gorgeous Shiraz grapes on the vines, knowing that we have made great wine from these for the past three years, and deciding to drop those grapes and not use them. That’s farming! We will concentrate on nurturing these vines for next year’s crop.

On a final note we hope all wine producers in the Hunter Valley make it through 2020 as well as possible. Media reports are often confusing and sometimes completely wrong. Some winemakers will have tested fruit, others may not have. Decisions to pick or not pick, make wine or not make wine, will have been made according to individual circumstances.

At Kelman we have plenty of good wine to share with our customers. We have a cellar door and private tastings to welcome you from Thursday through the weekend. We believe in transparency and will only offer wine that is of the highest quality. We look forward to seeing you!

Darryl Ede, Wine Production & Martin Long, Chair

The post 2020 Vintage Report appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

His tasting notes say  “Hand-picked and sorted in the winery, destemmed, open fermented, 3.5 weeks on skins, 9 months in French oak (10% new). Trophy, Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show, not hard to see why it was rated so well. It is deeply coloured with a cascade of satsuma plum, blackberry, French oak and ripe tannins rushing across the palate, thus allowing the wine to be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion. Drink to 2047.”

This wine has already earned a Gold, Trophy and best red wine in class at the Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show in 2018, as well as several other show medals. As a small boutique winery in the Hunter Valley, Kelman is very proud to have this recognition. According to Darryl Ede, Wine Production Manager, it all comes down to the quality of the fruit at Kelman and the skill of the winemaker, with minimum intervention, very careful use of oak and a great vintage in the Hunter Valley.

The Chairman’s Reserve Shiraz

is available at the Cellar Door and online at just $35 a bottle, making it one of the best value 96 point wines available. Try it against the 2018 Barrel Reserve Shiraz and our other 2018 new red wine releases.

Martin Long, Marketing Manager

The post Halliday recognises Kelman in 2020 Wine Companion appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

$15 per person minimum 2 maximum 8 people. Must be booked in advance. Please email marketing@kelmanvineyard.com.au or call the Cellar Door on 4991 5456

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Sunny days greet us with brilliant blue skies. It’s warm in the sun and then cool as soon as you are in the shade. Trees change colour everywhere you look. Vines lose their leaves as they turn first yellow then brown. The vines get ready for their dormant stage, when they will rely on stored energy in a process called senescence, as they wait for spring and a new bud burst. It’s clear we need some rain right now to set the ground for winter. That moisture will be all-important in spring.

Roses are still blooming – some almost going wild – at the ends of the rows, bringing lovely splashes of colour to every view. Both vines and roses will need to be pruned soon.

The dams look good and are full. Our ducks are enjoying every day. Two majestic black swans live on our duck pond sharing with families of coots, moorhens and purple swamp hens. The swans are clearly in charge! We see the odd egret, cormorant and grey heron as well, and Kelman is well known as a bird haven.

This is the time when we start thinking about lighting the fire for warmth and comfort, and drinking those wines we’ve put away for the cooler days and nights. My favourite at the moment is our Tempranillo, which goes so well with so many dishes.

May and June are also the months of post-harvest celebration with the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival in full swing with activities all across the valley.  Here’s a link to the official website. https://www.winecountry.com.au/events/wine-and-food-festival  You’ll find Kelman Vineyard has a tutored tasting event each weekend and you can see more on our Facebook page. Use the link on this site.

Enjoy your Autumn wine country experience. It’s one of the best times to visit for weather and activities. We look forward to seeing you at Kelman and showing you our award winning boutique wines.

Martin Long 

The post Autumn colours glow at Kelman Vineyard appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

It’s easy to join…

Choose our specially chosen six pack for just $99 plus freight or buy any straight six pack of Kelman wine at case price (10% discount) today and enjoy membership of the Kelman Cellar Club at no additional cost.

This offer is available at the Cellar Door and online through this website. Go to the Cellar Club tab.

The first 100 members will be offered the status of ‘Charter members’ of the Kelman Cellar Club and will receive a special reward in their first tasting pack.

All members will then be eligible to buy Kelman wine at Cellar Club price, generally 25% discount for unbroken 6 packs, and to enjoy lots of extra benefits. We send a tasting pack of six carefully selected wines just twice a year for you to judge for yourself.

These benefits include access to the Kelman Owners’ and Members’ Private Tasting Room, an online newsletter, invitations to events and news about our wines before anyone else.

All we ask is that you buy two six packs a year (you may choose the tasting packs at $99 or straight six packs at club price) to maintain your membership benefits.

We look forward to signing you up to the Kelman Cellar Club and sharing our wonderful wines with you.

Martin Long – Marketing and Cellar Club

The post Cellar Club launches today appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

By 6.00 am there was enough light and the pickers were sent to the first Chardonnay block. Locals joined a handful of owners and a small party of travellers to start the work. Snips and buckets were handed around and the quad bike lined up with the big bin ready for the first load. Picking started quickly, one person either side of each row, working their way through the tangle of vines to find the best fruit.

As the buckets began to fill, Terry, our long-term viticulturist, said that these were the best Chardonnay grapes he had seen in ten years at Kelman, so we are hopeful the wine will reflect that quality. Darryl, our Wine Production Manager, agreed and believes we will once again produce some award-winning wines.

As the morning passed the sun rose and began to burn off the mist. Water bottles came out, banter flowed between the pickers in the vines and the constant movement of grapes to buckets to bins continued without a break.

Some five hours later the small and hard-working team had picked 3 tonnes of Chardonnay and Semillon. This first pick was crushed together later that day. It will be used for our Field Blend Chardonnay-Semillon. The very first release of this wine is due in February from the 2018 vintage and it is a very approachable and drinkable wine. It will add depth to the Kelman boutique range. Look out for it at the Cellar Door very soon.

Martin Long

The post Vintage 19 at Kelman appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

Fans of the Hot Dub Time Machine festival in the Hunter Valley spent time among the vines and visited Kelman Vineyard.

The post Kelman a hit with Hot Dub Time Machine party-goers appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

You get used to the feel of warm grapes spilling juice over your hand as you cut out the bird strike, shirt wet from juice and sweat. Rivulets ran down under my old panama hat and behind my ears. Hot sun burnt the back of my legs as the temperature rose from 22 – 37 degrees. Black plastic boxes filled and emptied in a routine as runners moved up and down the rows. Playing leapfrog with other pickers as we work the rows, looking for the best fruit. It gets competitive! Trails of vine leaves and discarded bunches where the lorikeets have stolen their share.

I’m so much looking forward to the 2019 vintage and the feeling of satisfaction as you see pallet loads of pristine grapes making their way to the wine production sheds. Wondering how good this vintage will be. Watch this space for an update in a few months.

Martin Long

The post It’s Harvest Time! appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

Here is a summary of the 2018 awards to date:

2017 Tempranillo

Silver – Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show

Silver – NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show

Bronze – Hunter Valley Wine Show

Bronze – Cairns Wine Show

2017 Chairman’s Reserve Shiraz

Trophy and Gold – Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show. Best red in Class 11 – 2017 vintage Shiraz and equal points to the wine of the show with 97 points.

Silver – NSW Small Winemakers Show

Bronze – Hunter Valley Wine Show

2017 Chairman’s Reserve Chardonnay

Bronze – Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show

2017 Semillon

Bronze – Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show

2015 Sparkling Chardonnay

Bronze – Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show

All these boutique Hunter wines are available to taste and purchase from the Kelman Cellar Door.

The post Kelman a winner at 2018 Wine Shows! appeared first on Kelman Vineyard.

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