Oatley Vineyard winemaking with nature

Intro

Behind the labels, the website and the wine list there is a vineyard at the root of it all. The planting and nurturing of the vines, the attention to detail needed to grow the grapes and harvest them at the right time is a skill learned and passed down. Ultimately, if the grapes are not grown and harvested correctly then you are always facing an uphill battle. One thing is absolutely clear as I I pass by the sign directing me to Oatley Vineyard, attention to detail and allowing the grapes to grow in the most natural way possible is at the top of their priorities. I put a lot of stock in how a vineyard reveals itself. Some vineyards have a beautifully paved driveway leading through the vines, some will have a big visitor centre, which is all fine. However, Oatley sits in an oasis of calm, an aura surrounds the vineyard providing an energy I’ve not encountered before or since. The lane leading to the vineyard (on the day of my visit) has grass and wildflowers growing at an exponential rate, it is clear that this is a haven for wildlife, where things are encouraged to grow and not be restricted. The first thing Ned says to me when we start walking the vines is ‘when you try and fix a problem you often just create a new one’ and therefore the vineyards ecosystem works with its environment rather than against it.