Harvest 2024

It was challenging, but we are done.

When they say it does not rain in Chile during harvest: untrue. It rained twice— a third time after we finished picking… but the challenge this year did not stem from rain, but rather ripeness. Ripeness varied across vineyards more than usual. For Garage it was a serious challenge because we farm 34 hectares across a series of 17 [very] different parcels. And within each parcel there was greater heterogeneity than we have ever seen.

So we brought the fruit in to the cellar in smaller pieces subdividing already divided small parcels into bits smaller still. Beyond the mayhem of so many small bits, it was a terrific harvest to compare and contrast (the different bits). We learned a great deal, even from farms we have been working for 15 plus years.

Our wine-maker in-the-fields (each year we have two young winemakers helping: one in the cellar and one in-the-fields to bring in the fruit just right. Felipe-in-the-fields almost went crazy pursuing precision in the midst of madness, but he managed and managed it well.

For about fifteen years now we have been building a team working the vines and fields adjacent throughout the yearly cycle from from pruning thru to harvest. This year more than ever before that team has shown to have paid dividends in quality. As we like to say: ¨ We have to return to farmer wisdom. There is far more wisdom amongst farmers than we realise. ¨

It has been through inclusion of farmers and their ideas that we have advanced our work with regenerative agriculture in a meaningful way for small growers.

What will 2024 bring next Spring and beyond?

• a crispy Old Vine Pale Rosé
• two bright whites
• ethereal Cariñena and Garnacha low in alcohol and high in fine round tense tannins that only ripe lignified stems can provide
• Cabernet numbers this year where text book (these will be bright and expressive with plenty of tension)
• Cinsault production was down so purchase early, because again textbook numbers
• And finally from Cauquenes will come lifted cool-climate old-vine Syrah and a soon to be released Malbec parcel than will certainly turn some heads. (The Malbec parcel begins bottled in 2022 so you do not have so long to wait).

We began by saying that it was a challenge. The longer hang-time certainly made it bad for the nerves, but we think the same extended hang-time will make it great for the bottles! We look forward to tasting things in barrel after malolactic in the Spring and we shall keep you informed when we do.

Best

Pilar, Derek, Alvaro & Team