Wine
Q&A with Vic Peos from Peos Estate
Q. How has daily life changed at the winery during CV-19?
A. Not much has changed on the farm, catching up on maintenance with cellar door now closed and less entertaining to be had. We have enjoyed the time to think about how things may progress, more planning is happening, which is nice for a change. Although life on the farm hasn’t changed much to date, we can reflect on needs rather than wants, bringing life into perspective, which has been lovely.
Q. How much do the drought conditions around Western Australia affect you as a wine grower and producer in Manjimup?
A. Manjimup is quite unique. It has been dry, but we have plenty of water. If anything, it has actually enhanced our wine!
Q. When did vintage start for you this season?
A. Harvest started on the 20th February 2020, with Chardonnay the first to be picked. Red vintage was completed in early April.
Q. How is the 2020 vintage looking?
A. The current vintage is looking good, but unfortunately the yields are down.
Q. What are the conditions in your vineyards?
A. The whites were finished in mid-Feb, which is the earliest we’ve ever had – the conditions were dry and warm. Meanwhile, the reds had received some welcome rain, and were looking really healthy.
Q. Historically where does that place you, compared to other years?
A. This is the earliest harvest ever for Peos Estate.
Q. What varietal is shaping up to be the pick of the crop?
A. It’s a little too early to tell, however, the Cabernet Sauvignon seems to be leading the charge.
Q. Does Peos Estate practice organic wine production? Is this something you find important for the vintages to come?
A. While we don’t practice organics, we do try to minimise the overuse of chemicals. We use organic products that we know give us good results. As we move forward, we would naturally like to move to a more sustainable style.
Q. Is Marvin, the super cute winery dog, pulling his weight?
A. Marvin has a very measured approach – he sleeps under the ute while its hot, but surfaces if there is a vineyard inspection on the cards.
