Wet Wet Wet
I am not referring to the Scottish band from the 80’s, but to Lomond. We have had so much rain that the water is literally oozing out of the ground, making some parts of the farm impassable. Yes, I did get the cruiser stuck and had to get the John Deere to pull me out….
Love Syrah? 4 different wines, 3 different vintages of each wine, assembled for Syrah Month.
The wet and cold weather (at this time of year) is perfect for the farm, the dam and the fynbos.
Farming is a passion, but the protection and restoration of Fynbos is rapidly becoming an obsession. Specifically, the eradication of alien plant species and one species in particular, Australian Myrtle. (Leptospermum laevigatum).
Alien plant species are the biggest threat to the Cape Floral Kingdom (not my words).
I believe that Myrtle, if left unchecked, will destroy the fynbos between Cape Agulhas and Rooi Els in two decades.
Myrtle makes all of the other invasive species look positively benign. There is no biological control (which there is with Port Jackson). Myrtle coppices, so if we cut it down to ground height, it simply encourages new shoots to grow from stumps or roots and if not poisoned, there is no tried and tested method of eradication. Therefore traditional removal techniques are ineffective when tried in isolation.
The result, a real mission to eradicate. Our latest approach is a combination of fire, brush cutters, spot application of herbicide and hand pulling by Joyce’s team. We have been at it for 3 years and will be at it forever, as even when cleared, it comes back, so continual follow ups are key.
Latest update: In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, “I bought a thing!” – a mulcher which is attached to the digger loader. The theory is that it chows the thickets of green aliens in winter, leaving biomass on the ground which when we burn will incinerate the adults and the seedlings.
I say “in theory” for two reasons:
- This method has never been followed before.
- And the digger loader died and we had to buy a new one, arriving this week. Cannot wait.
You will recognise myrtle if you go to upmarket florists and supermarkets, it is used in flower arrangements. At Christmas, it is spray-painted silver…..
Please don’t buy it…..
To be continued…
I sincerely hope you enjoy the wine and the rest of our newsletter!
Geoff
Events coming soon
The Lomond Spring Mountain Bike and Trail Run weekend takes place on Saturday 21st September and Sunday 22nd September on the farm. We are pleased to partner with Sunset Events again to deliver you an enjoyable and challenging weekend of activities and to enjoy our beautiful estate.
More details can be found by clicking on the pictures below.
Subscription News
We have three subscription offerings of 12 bottles that we encourage you to explore. Subscriptions offer you a curated selection each quarter, or twice a year, put together by our expert winemakers who handpick a selection of wines that showcase the best of Lomond. This includes our latest releases, rare vintages, and special reserve wines, ensuring you always have something exceptional to enjoy.
Click here for more information about the Lomond Selection Subscription.
In Other News
This Friday, the 9th August, is National Women’s Day in South Africa celebrating a pivotal day in 1956. Enjoy the special extra day off this week and come along to the tasting room to enjoy our platters and award winning wines.
We always welcome your feedback, so please email us at office@lomond.co.za if you have any questions or queries.
Follow us on social media for news from the farm and exclusive loyalty offers @lomondwine or simply join the Lomond Cellar Club to take advantage of discounted pricing and learn about releases of our new vintages.
Look out for your next update in September.
The Lomond Team
