Change of season

With the night temperatures dropping and the days becoming the usual autumn bright sunshine days Withoek is starting to prepare for the new blocks to be planted. 
As usual we will have as part of our job creation the seasonal workers to cut down vineyards and orchards and the wood sold in the local market.  So do come we still have some very dry wood from last year and some newer ones from this year. 
Withoek is busy taking out some vineyards at Herminashof and replacing it with Apricot cultivars Soldonne and Bebeco.  Both the apricot cultivars is drying cultivars.  With this we will have more drying options and higher volumes.
At the Besemkop farm we are planting the Apriums - Apricot and plum hybrid - which is for the fresh market but actually developed for the dried fruit markets.  On the eastern side of the road we will be planting some Chenin blanc. 
The table grape block next to the Calitzdorp Country Lodge  will be replaced by an extension of the Chenin block that was planted there last year.  This making the block over 2 ha.  On the Wesoewer side of the the same farm we are taking out some old Apricot - Bullida - orchard and Hanepoot vineyard and putting in African Rose an new plum cultivar suppose to be very early.  This is quite a new variety and only available the last two years commercially.
For those who sometimes wander passed Jakkalskop will notice we are also taking out another vineyard which was an old experimental block with a white variety,  Souzao and Peach trees on it. This will be replaced with Chenin blanc block.  We will also develope a 2 ha block of Chenin blanc next to our red vineyard blocks. 
The total replanting and replacing project will be 7 ha of which two is total new plantings. 
As if we don't keep ourselves busy enough we will also have 2ha of flood irrigation being replaced by micro irrigation and a Peach orchard's drip irrigation getting the second line. 
Withoek will be closed over the week with all the holidays.  I am available if you want to buy any wines so do contact if necceasary. 
Maybe a bit of promotion for a new establishment in Calitzdorp.  Erica and Hans Calitz of the Donkey Trail opened a restaurant,  Aloe Aloe,  in Groenfontein on their property.  They serve a Sunday afternoon spread which really is excellent.  Do make reservations though.  It really is worht while with one of the most beautiful Karoo drives.