We started harvesting the Chardonnay for the Môreson Méthode Cap Classique this week.

[For more picture of the 2010 Môreson Harvest click here.]

As you can see from the pictures the grapes, coming off the Môreson vines, look amazing. If grape quality is anything to go by 2010 looks set to be a great vintage for Môreson.

At the end of 2009 we introduce the Môreson Wine of the Week concept on the farm and it proved so popular we’ve decided to extend it into 2010.

If you visit the Môreson this week you’ll discover that our present wine of the week is the 2009 Môreson Chenin Blanc.

Being this week’s Môreson Wine of the Week means that the Chenin Blanc is offered for sale - through the Môreson Tasting Room and the Bread & Wine Farm Grocer only - at a special price: R62,00 per bottle instead of R69,00 per bottle (for this week only).

If you’re in the area pop in, grab a bite to eat (you’ll need to book for Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant), taste some of the amazing Môreson wines and take home a case of the 2009 Môreson Chenin Blanc. It’s seriously delicious, so you’ll probably need more than just a case.

Harvest has officially started on Môreson and that means that our annual Blessing of the Harvest celebration must be just around the corner.

This year the Môreson Blessing of the Harvest is taking place on Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of February 2010 and it costs R300,00 per person. [For pictures of the 2009 Môreson Blessing of the Harvest click here].

For those of you that have never attended a Blessing of the Harvest it is the yearly Môreson homage to winemaking. At our Blessing of the Harvest every participant get the opportunity to make wine the old-fashioned way. You handpick your own basket of grapes and then press them using the oldest tools in the winemaking business – your feet.

A relaxed lunch at our award-winning Bread & Wine Vineyard Restaurant and a highly competitive label design competition follow the harvesting and grape-stomping activities. The grapes you pick and stomp are then matured, into wine, by us and available for collection later in the year.

For more information, or to book, please contact Tina on – 021 876 3692 – or email her by clicking here.

2009 has been a busy, challenging and incredibly rewarding year.

At Môreson it’s been one of our most hectic, in a good way, years to date.

We’ve won some nice awards:

• Gold at the 2009 Chardonnay du Monde for our 2007 Môreson Premium Chardonnay
• Double Gold at the 2009 Veritas Awards for our 2008 Môreson Premium Chardonnay
• Gold at the 2009 Michelangelo Awards for our 2008 Môreson Pinotage
• And others.

We’ve released a new range:

Our Miss Molly range of wines has started to take off and, in the New Year, you can expect to see some exciting developments on this front.

We released our new Méthode Cap Classique labels and packaging:

These have well received and you’ll be seeing a lot more from them in the New Year.

I got married on the farm:

It was a truly magical day and both Môreson and Bread & Wine did a fantastic job. My day was unique, it was captivating and it was delicious! Next year you’ll definitely be seeing more of Bread & Wine on the wedding circuit.

We’ll see you over the festive season, if you’re in the Franschhoek area, or in the New Year. Have a safe and happy holiday!

x.

Clayton Reabow - the Môreson Winemaker - has been awarded the coveted title of 2009 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year for his 2007 Môreson Premium Chardonnay.

As you can guess everyone on Môreson farm is super proud of Clayton and this amazing achievement!

This year has been a good year for Môreson and awards. In fact our Premium Chardonnay has now won three major awards in 2009. Which is really great because, even though we create all Môreson wine to first and foremost be enjoyed by you, it’s cool to recognised. Plus those shiny gold stickers are awesome!

A quick peak at the Premium Chardonnay awards for 2009:

A gold - at the 2009 Chardonnay du Monde Competition - for the 2007 Môreson Premium Chardonnay.

A 2009 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year title - for the 2007 Môreson Premium Chardoonay.

A Double Gold - at the 2009 Veritas Awards - for the 2008 Premium Chardonnay (which is presently available for sale).

Like I said 2009 has been a good year for the Môreson Premium Chardonnay.

We’ve got just over a month to go before the annual Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival and Môreson is busy preparing for what promises to be our best Franschhoek Champagne Festival yet!

If you’re familiar with the Môreson Cap Classique we’re going to take this opportunity to prepare you (once again) for the fact that the Cap Classique you’ll meet at the Champagne Festival will look completely different.

Our old Cap Classique labels have served us well and done an amazing job but, we feel, it’s time for a change. We love our Môreson Cap Classique which is why we’ve dressed it up as the prettiest girl at the party. If you’re concerned about the Cap Classique in the bottle - don’t worry - it’s still the same Môreson Cap Classique that you know and love.

You’ll know it when you see it because the Môreson Cap Classique is now impossible to miss. Perhaps - if you ask nicely enough - I’ll give you a sneak peak.

This week everyone on Môreson, who was involved, will take part in the Franschhoek Uncorked 2009 debriefing session. During this session we’ll discuss the good, the bad and the ugly and look at ways to improve for next year. So if you have anything to add drop me an email or a comment.

We’ll also begin preparing for the next big Franschhoek event - the Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival. It’s always fun, well attended and full of bubbly … what could possibly be better? We’re planning on launching the new Môreson Cap Classique labels and packaging at this event so a lot of work, planning and other-things-like-that will have to take place between now and then to ensure that we’re 100% ready.

You might remember that the 2007 Môreson Premium Chardonnay received an amazing gold at the Chardonnay du Monde competition and now it’s younger, but equally delicious sibling, the 2008 Môreson Premium Chardonnay has scooped a double gold at Veritas.

Congratulations to all the other Veritas winners.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to open a bottle of our double-golded Premium Chardonnay to celebrate.

If you’d like to make a weekend out of  it why not book into Le Quartier Français? From Friday the 9th of October to Sunday the 11th of October 2009 you can stay at Le Quartier Français for R895 per person per night*. This Uncorked special includes their spectacular breakfast - where you’ll meet-and-eat their world famous sticky buns - and a Franschhoek Uncorked wine tasting passport.

*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

This coming weekend - on the 10th and 11th of October 2009 - Franschhoek will belatedly usher in Spring with the third annual Franschhoek Uncorked Festival.

At Môreson – over the Uncorked weekend - we have the following on offer:

• The official launch of our new range of Miss Molly wines. They’re fantastic and if you’re a dog lover you’ll adore the concept, the labels and the wine. We’re offering an Uncorked-only 10% discount on purchases of two cases (12 bottles) or more and a portion of every bottle sold will be donated to the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind. What can we say … Miss Molly has a thing for guide dogs.
• Neil Jewell’s famous food-market will once again be creating delicious cuisine. The Bread & Wine Head Chef does the best mussels and boerewors rolls this side of the equator. With the food he has on offer you’ll find yourself settling down for a snack and staying for the entire day.
• There is an entire children’s section including: a jumping castle, games, snacks, pizza and more.
• Music by Lara Frances – she played last year and was absolutely fantastic.
  A great selection of BMW motorcycles, Landrovers and Warn products on display. The motorcycles, Landrovers and Warn products will definitely keep the guys interested; and, who knows, maybe you’ll finally take the plunge and order that bike you’ve always wanted.
• Lastly the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind – who are proudly supported by Miss Molly – will be at Môreson for the duration of Uncorked.

We’ve checked and rechecked the weather and it looks set to be a beautiful weekend.

See you in Franschhoek.