So after the good news of last time a lot has happened again. It is like life is everchanging the last months. This is great, because for me a life without change is like not living at all.
First of all I have spent the Easter Days in Wellington, where for a change, the weather was marvellous for nearly all of the weekend. Unfortunately, I had to write two assignments during my stay and therefore I did not have enough time to meet the people I would like to meet and to do everything that I had liked to do, but maybe next time ........ When I came back in Blenheim again there were visitors from Wellington. Blenheim is in a convenient position to the Picton Ferry so I have been meeting a lot of people from Wellington in the meantime (or are they just checking what I am doing here?) and it is great to go out with them and have a good time. A good break from school and the grapes.
The grape growing season here in the Marlborough area has come into its final stages. A lot of the grapes have been picked in the mean time. Last week we started monitoring the grapes in the school vineyard to decide when to pick. We have to make a red wine from Pinot Noir grapes in groups. I am working together on this project with a Russian girl and a Japanese guy and I think our group is very special, because of the different backgrounds and views on wine. From the start we agreed that we wanted to go the extra mile and so we have taken the extraordinary approach to try to make a Pinot Noir, but at the same time a Rose from these grapes. Therefore, we have to follow two separate procedures and although it will be extra work it will be far more interesting and a challenge! The test of the juice at the moment is perfect and we are confident that we are producing something that will be drinkable. From now on we have to monitor our product daily to be sure the process is going well.
In between the picking and crushing of the grapes I had to move houses again. Although, I did not have to, but I decided on moving somewhere where I had internet access and more space, so I have a real desk to do some work for school. The house itself is bigger as well, but here we live with four people in total, being the landlord, a classmate and a guy who works in a pub and two dogs. So, this weekend I am trying to settle down a bit and preparing for some tests that are upcoming this week.
There was a multicultural event in Blenheim organised by Migrant Support Marlborough this weekend where a lot of cultural groups performed. With my former flatmate I spent some time watching the different shows on stage - and for the first time the sun was not shining. It seems that autumn really is coming now. It feels already like a very long summer to me and I am enjoying that very much.
This week Marco will be travelling down to Blenheim for the first time, so he will be there during the official presentation of the Scholarship Award during a ceremony at the Institute on Thursday.
Cheers,
Anita
28/03/2008
13/03/2008
Good news!
Hi all
Just a quick message from Blenheim this time after a very successful week at the NMIT (Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology). First of all on Wednesday we went on a field trip to one of the wineries where they just started up the vintage for their sparkling wines. We have been on this winery all day and doing things like emptying grates with grapes, cleaning grates, cleaning presses and listening to explanations of the whole process from grape receival to wine. Of course the best part of this day was the wine tasting itself. We tasted their first and second tier products and got to recognise the differences.
The next day we went on a tour on a vineyard that is owned by a French family. It was very interesting to see the compromises that are made here between the French and NZ philosophy of grape growing and wine making.
But the highlight of this week was that I have won a scholarship for part of my fees this year!! A few weeks ago I applied for this on basis of my particular situation here and my interest in the biodynamic way of grapegrowing. My ideas were good enough to grant me the scholarship and in a few weeks time there will be an official presentation of this. Of course I have to do some work for it as well. I will have to write progress reports and publications for a magazine. To me it is only an extra bonus! And hopefully after Easter I can start working on a biodynamic vineyard, so I can start learning more about this way of doing things. The biodynamics are not teached at the Institute, but I become more and more convinced of the fact that this is the way of the future (and should have been of the past!).
Sorry, this is a short message, but I am so excited and wanted to share it!!
Have a great weekend,
Anita
Just a quick message from Blenheim this time after a very successful week at the NMIT (Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology). First of all on Wednesday we went on a field trip to one of the wineries where they just started up the vintage for their sparkling wines. We have been on this winery all day and doing things like emptying grates with grapes, cleaning grates, cleaning presses and listening to explanations of the whole process from grape receival to wine. Of course the best part of this day was the wine tasting itself. We tasted their first and second tier products and got to recognise the differences.
The next day we went on a tour on a vineyard that is owned by a French family. It was very interesting to see the compromises that are made here between the French and NZ philosophy of grape growing and wine making.
But the highlight of this week was that I have won a scholarship for part of my fees this year!! A few weeks ago I applied for this on basis of my particular situation here and my interest in the biodynamic way of grapegrowing. My ideas were good enough to grant me the scholarship and in a few weeks time there will be an official presentation of this. Of course I have to do some work for it as well. I will have to write progress reports and publications for a magazine. To me it is only an extra bonus! And hopefully after Easter I can start working on a biodynamic vineyard, so I can start learning more about this way of doing things. The biodynamics are not teached at the Institute, but I become more and more convinced of the fact that this is the way of the future (and should have been of the past!).
Sorry, this is a short message, but I am so excited and wanted to share it!!
Have a great weekend,
Anita
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