Volume 74 Item 04: Sir William Macarthur memoranda regarding vintages, 1845, 1846: No. 28

[Page 28]

1846

March 2nd

This season has been very favorable for the early maturation of the grapes the summer having been unusually warm & prolonged - Up to the 17th Ulto everything promised an early & abundant vintage - on that day however a severe hail-storm of short duration inflicted a large amount of damage probably one fourth of the crop has been destroyed. The damaged grapes have been gathered and put into No 6 vat to make vinegar or Brandy. There are probably from 4 to 500 gals of juice - Fortunately the hail has been succeeded by several very hot days with strong N.W. wind - The greater part of the bruised grapes have dried up and will add to the richness of the must - Some rottenness however is taking place amongst the [indecipherable] to a moderate