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History
Foate's
Ridge was founded in 1991 with the purchase of farm land in Fordwich, five
minutes from the township of Broke in the lower Hunter Valley.
The
first 5 acres of Chardonnay was planted in 1992 and the first vintage of
Foate's Ridge Chardonnay made in 1994. A further 5 acres of Chardonnay, as well
as 5 acres of Verdelho, were planted in 1995. The first vintage from these new
blocks was in 1997.
During
2000, 6 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 acre of Merlot were planted on the
red volcanic slope. The Merlot plantings were extended by a further 5 acres in
2001.
A
country style house with encircling verandahs, was erected near the top of the
ridge, giving unimpeded views over the whole vineyard, including the mountains
to the south and the valley to both the east and west.
The
Vineyard
The
property comprises 90 acres of land stretching from the Wollombi Brook to the
crest of the Fordwich Sill.
Seventy-five
percent of the land is light alluvial loam, suitable for the cultivation of
white wine grapes, and the balance is deep red volcanic soil, ideal for growing
red wine grapes. Soil thickness is around 2 metres and has proven to be very
fertile.
The
vineyard was originally irrigated from a natural spring on the property.
Subsequently, a large storage dam was constructed and water pumped from the
Wollombi Brook and the Broke Fordwich Private Irrigation District ("PID") water
scheme. Water quality is good with low salt content.
The
Wines
Foate's
Ridge wines are made to a consistent style which produces lightly wooded wines
with distinctive fruit flavours. Partly matured in one or two year old oak with
the balance left on the lees to fill out the middle palate. The fruit is
generally harvested mid February in the cool of the night.
Fruit
condition has been consistently good over the years. The nature acid structure
is always good and the aging of the vines is contributing more intense and
distinctive fruit flavours in the finished wine. The style is ripe peaches,
pears and mangos with a sense of subtlety, freshness and complexity. The first
vintage in 1994 had a small amount of residual sugar with lots of weight and
lingering flavours. The latter vintages are a lighter style but powerful with
more pronounced fruit flavours. The finished product contains only minimal
preservatives.
The
wines generally peaked at 4 to 5 years out, but were good up to 8 years.
They were best served ice cold outside on a hot day, or at room temperature on
a cool evening to accentuate the fruit flavours.
Technologies
The
vineyard traditionally employs Scott Henry trellising utilising a combination
of steel and wood posts. The Scott Henry trellis style promised to promote more
efficient canopy management, allowing more sunlight into the vine, with a more
open vine structure. The aim was to help avoid bunch rot and crop deterioration
in wet and humid weather, guarding against the risk of crop loss if wet weather
occurred at harvest time.
The
target was good quality grapes and profitable yields - 5 to 6 tonne per acre.
However,
while Scott Henry trellising has been found to be unpopular with winemakers, we
believe we can grow better grapes on Scott Henry. The vine structure is
currently being modified towards short cordons over two fruit wires with yields
reduced to 4 tonne per acre.
Laser
equipment is used during trellis installation to ensure perfect row alignment.
Drip irrigation is installed and a Gopher is used to monitor soil moisture
levels. The irrigation process is operated by a computerised controller.
Pruning
and shoot positioning are done by hand, but spraying, cultivation and vine
trimming are mechanised. Fertiliser is applied through the drip irrigation
system.
The
grapes are machine harvested in the cool of the night to preserve fruit
quality. The increasing use of steel trellis posts helps the harvester recover
bunches close to the post, a difficult task with wood posts.
Vineyard
Practices
A
professional viticulturist, Neil Grosser of Broke, under the watchful eye of
the owner Tony Foate, attends to day to day vineyard activities.
No
expense is spared in ensuring that vineyard practices are in the "best
practice" category. The focus is to produce the best quality fruit .. at a
profit. This means getting good yields and producing good quality, clean fruit.
These aims are achieved by :
-
adopting
modern canopy management techniques
-
paying
close attention to vine health
-
avoiding
disease and insect problems by applying preventative sprays
-
using
a scientific approach to maintaining adequate soil moisture levels
During
winter, a cover crop such as Canola is planted. While the vines are growing,
regular nitrogen fertilisation through the drip system is carried out.
Fungicidal and insecticide sprays are applied when necessary. Cultivation is
used to prevent weed growth and weedicides are rarely used.
Weather
Patterns
Fordwich
has a cool dry winter and a hot wet summer. Annual rainfall is around 650mm
(26in). Frosts are common in winter and a single late frost after budburst is
common. Hail is a threat while the grapes are ripening. The hot humid summer
means the threat of mildew and bunch rot is ever present.
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