2010 Vintage Report
Date: Saturday 14th August 2010
Category: Tiger Ranch Vineyards
What promised so much leading up to vintage, with the first commercial quantities of Pinot Noir from Tiger Ranch, and a steady healthy crop at Eugenana and Lake Barrington View vineyards was destroyed in a matter of days when European Wasps literally destroyed approximately 6 to 8 tonnes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at Tiger Ranch and Eugenana in just four (4) days. Many of you may have seen reports of major losses on the Tamar and other areas of the state, this was total and complete destruction.
The irony is that less than two weeks later I returned home to find a representative of the fox task force walking his dog on my property, claiming a scat had been found on a neighbouring property ("Poppycock"). My neighbours have fowl, had ewes lambing and a fox would not have stopped "for a single courtesy dump" on the way through and not sampled from the menu. I also question how one scat was found amongst the myriad of wallaby, possum, sheep, dog and other common inhabitants of the farming community (Talk about a needle in a hay stack). I have no objection to the ranger walking his dog being paid to make sure foxes are not here; but there is no concrete evidence they are, personally I would like to see the money spent on Thylacine research; but and there is a bigger BUT.
I suggested to the fox ranger that the taskforce was a scam, and they would be better served eradicating "Richmond supporters", but he didn't see the connection of the "black and gold".
We do know that wasps are here, we do know that there is an endemic problem. This is our first total crop loss, but not the first that has been significantly affected. Wine brings valuable income to the state in form of income to private enterprise and the states tourism industry. The money spent or allocated on chasing fox "ghosts" would have provided for enough baits to help protect every effected vineyard in Tasmania last season. It is about time that the State Government prioritised their policy spending to protect an industry that for its size has world wide visibility, recognition and appeal and allocated resources commensurate with the magnitude and substantiated evidence of an existing and controllable problem.
This vintage will provide Zero income for Tiger Ranch wines, and potentially one full time and a couple of part time positions!
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Awarran Park Arabian update
Date: Sunday 28th November 2010
Category: Awarran Park Arabians
So far this 2010 Spring it has been a season of mixed fortunes, some delightful arrivals, some devastating departures, and some significant sales. Hopefully no more Vales, but a few more arrivals due and sales pending seeing the year end on a high note.
At our low ebb "The Vale" - losing an entire bloodline in a few short weeks, firstly Sunland Miss Independent's 2009 Sabino filly following a storm, them Miss independent herself foaling with a second Sabino filly in a severe snow storm, and coldest wind chill factor in over 17 years. Both Fillies by Ebjarah Aladin. Miss Independent prolapsed and could not be saved. Just 4 weeks later and just before I went into hospital for back surgery my beloved mare Lafala took ill aged 19 and passed away only about a month before her due foaling date to Inshallah Royal Escort. At about the same time Elphyn Dorinda gave birth to a second exquisite filly by Ebjara Aladin - while I was in hospital recovering from the surgery Carol, Hilton and Heather planned a surprise trip to Hobart to visit only to find on the morning of departure that Dorinda's filly 16 days old had been kicked, breaking her leg and having to be humanely laid to rest. Carol and the kids still visited but kept mum about the tragedy, which I was told about on the way home several days when I said I was looking forward to being able to look out the window at the foaling paddock during R & R.
The Highlights - Awarran Park Silver Sheikh (Arfaja Silver Aura/Elphyn Sherleel)being purchased from Brett Bingham and Keren Wilde and exported to Dubai and joining Al Reef stables, and being kept entire for breeding purposes, his sister Awarran Park Sahara Shayde (by Fenwick Silver Shadow) has followed him to Brett Bingham and Keren Wilde's stables after weaning. Awarran Park Silver Countess (Inshallah Silver Echo/Elphyn Countess) will shortly be heading to Queensland to her new home. 3 year old gelding Awarran Park Indian Escort (Inshallah Royal Escort/Elphyn Indian Rose) has joined has new home with Stuart King and Kelly and will when mature be campaigned for endurance. Stuart's comment on confirming purchase "This would be the first time I've ever really liked a horse, when I decided to buy it!" seems an unusual comment, but he did say I could quote him.
Form most recent 20/11/2010 Elphyn Sherleel has gifted us with our first colt (brother to Sheikh and Shara Shayde) of the season, chestnut by Inshallah Royal Escort, and on the same night by Escort a quite exquisite bay PC filly from Elphyn Symba (also by Escort) to follow Summer Radiance's chestnut filly by Ebjarah Aladin, and two PC fillies, bay from Elphyn Sarbrina and chestnut from Magic Morn, both by Fenwick Silver Shadow. Stay tuned for more foaling news.
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More photos: Awarran Park Fillies