Averill Creek had a wonderful year in 2009 with a bumper harvest of very good quality, ripe fruit. We were expecting 65 tons of grapes and ended up picking 92 tons. The quality of the Pinot Noir was exceptional and we have great hopes for making a reserve which would be available in 2011. We will have good volumes of Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer for 2010 and we will be releasing a new wine made in a Beaujolais style from our Marechal Foch. The wine has been made by carbonic maceration and is showing great fresh fruity characters. It will be a bright summer wine you can look for next Spring.

The winery will be open for one week in December. Wednesday the 9th to Sunday the 13th from 12.00 to 5.00, you can taste our currents wines and purchase for the holiday season. We will have gift packs in the Averill Creek monogrammed wooden boxes with special prices. These will featuring a selection of all our current and vintage wines. These sets of wine will make wonderful gifts for friends and family or for those special corporate clients. Our engraved Reidel tasting glasses will be available for sale and of course AJ's Case Club members receive additional discounts.

We are very busy finishing off the 2009 vintage and getting all the varietal wines from 2008 ready for bottling. The winery is open by appointment for wine sales during the winter and will open seven days a week for tasting and tours next April.

Wendy and I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and an exciting New Year. Andy Johnston.