By Sam (Vineyard Manager) & Dino (Winemaker)

Sam here.

There’s a particular stillness that settles over the vineyard just before harvest. The air feels thicker. The mornings a little cooler. The grapes hang heavy and confident, like they know their moment has arrived.

And this year?
This year, they are something special.

Row after row, I’ve walked these blocks with a quiet grin. Clusters full and beautifully formed. Skins rich with colour. Flavours layered and precise. More than one visitor has stopped mid-row and said, “These look absolutely fantastic.” I simply nod. Inside, my tail is wagging.

We’ve worked for this.

Winter pruning set the tone. Spring growth came evenly. Summer gave us warmth without cruelty. The balance has been beautiful. Every adjustment — canopy management, water control, timing — has led us right here.

Now it’s almost time.

Dino speaking.

From my side of the cellar, I’ve been watching Sam like a hawk. Sugar levels climbing steadily. Acidity holding firm. Seeds turning brown. Skins softening exactly when they should.

I taste constantly. It’s a tough job.

This harvest is shaping up to be our best yet. There’s depth in these grapes. Purity. Structure. The kind of fruit that makes a winemaker slow down and pay attention.

We don’t rush harvest. We wait for alignment — sugar, acid, tannin, flavour. When those four fall into step, we move. And when we move, we move with purpose.

Of course, no harvest happens alone.

Enzo has been quietly making sure tractors, bins and tools are exactly where they should be — no drama, no delays. Just smooth operations from sunrise to sunset.

Noodle has doubled security patrols. Harvest attracts attention, and he’s not about to let any opportunistic visitors near our hard work.

Nibby is everywhere. Checking rows, chasing off feathered troublemakers, and “assisting” in ways only she can, mostly by being enthusiastic and slightly underfoot.

Ziggy is already planning the stories she’ll tell about this vintage, camera angles, captions and all. She says a harvest this good deserves an audience.

And Lassy? She watches quietly from the cellar door in the late afternoons, reminding us that every great vintage carries the memory of seasons past.

Harvest is not just about picking grapes.

It’s the culmination of frost watches and sunburn checks. Of adjusting shoots in the wind. Of walking rows in the heat. Of patience.

Soon, the first crates will arrive at the crush pad. The cellar will hum. Juice will begin its quiet transformation. And the vineyard will finally exhale.

We believe this vintage will carry the signature of a near-perfect season; vibrant fruit, confident structure, and the kind of balance that only comes when nature and timing shake hands.

For now, we walk the rows.
We taste.
We wait.

Harvest is calling.

And we’re ready.

Sam & Dino

Sometimes all the long days in the vineyard and the late nights in the cellar pay off in ways that make your tail wag with pride. I’m thrilled to share that Long Dog Wines has just won a Gold Medal at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards!

For those who don’t know, the Michelangelo Awards are one of the most respected wine competitions on the continent. Judges from around the world come together to taste wines blind, focusing only on quality, balance, and craftsmanship. To have our wine recognised among such company is a huge honour.

Dino, bursting with pride.

As the winemaker here at Long Dog, I can tell you this medal isn’t just about one good vintage, it’s about years of careful work. From Sam’s precise pruning in spring, to the careful hand-picking of grapes, to the long hours of fermentation and barrel ageing, every step is part of the story that ended in gold.

When we entered, I knew the wine had something special. The fruit was vibrant, the structure balanced, and it carried that unique sense of place that makes Long Dog so distinctive. But awards are never guaranteed. So, when the results came through, I nearly dropped my glass (don’t worry, it was empty at the time).

Dino having a celebratory run around the farm.

This gold medal belongs to everyone who walks these rows, tends these vines, and believes in the character of our farm. It also belongs to all of you who share our wines at your tables, with friends, family, and the stories that matter most.

Tonight, I’ll raise a glass of our award-winner and savour not just the flavour, but the journey that brought it here.

Here’s to excellence, to craft, and to the joy of sharing a wine that now shines a little brighter.

Cheers,
Dino

Tannat has always spoken to me, not with a wag or a bark, but with boldness. It’s a grape that doesn’t try to please everyone, and neither do I. Strong, dark, and a little misunderstood? Sounds like someone I know.

Image of Dino Lamberti many dog years ago, back when Long Dog Wines was just getting its paws dirty in 2017.

At Long Dog Wines, we’ve always gravitated toward grapes with character, and Tannat has that in spades. It’s not just bold, it’s brooding. Originally from the southwest of France, Tannat has found fame in Uruguay, where it’s been embraced and transformed. But here, on our quiet patch of earth, it’s carving out a story all its own and I get to tell it. I may be a dog, low to the ground, stocky, black and tan, but I’ve spent enough seasons among barrels and vines to know when something special is happening. And with our Tannat, something very special is indeed happening.

 The first thing you’ll notice is the colour: dark, inky, almost opaque. It pours like velvet at twilight. Then the nose (trust me, I know noses), it hits with black fruit, spice, cracked pepper, and the smell of tobacco leaf after rain. Let it breathe, and you’ll uncover hints of leather, cacao, and that unmistakable earthy signature of our soil. Then you take a sip.

 Tannat doesn’t whisper. It walks in and owns the room. The tannins? Bold and structured, not harsh, but confident. Like a dog who’s found his spot and dares you to move him. But give it time, and you’ll discover a surprising softness. The fruit opens up, the edges round out, like me after a belly rub. There’s grace behind the grit.

 Here at Long Dog, our Tannat spends two years aging in French oak. The barrels don’t tame its wildness, they refine it. It’s still rugged, still proud, but now it’s polished. And while Tannat can certainly stand on its own four paws, I knew from the start it needed a partner.

Tannat brings the brawn, Cab Franc brings the charm. Together, they’re like two paws of the same stride. Powerful, balanced, and beautifully in sync. The result? The Long Dog Blend. A 50/50 partnership that sings. It took years to get it just right, but when you taste it, you’ll understand why we kept at it. Tannat lays the foundation; Cab Franc dances on top. It’s a wine with backbone, brightness, and a long finish. Like a vineyard walk that stays with you.

 If you’ve never tried the Long Dog Blend, consider this your invitation. Pour a glass, take your time, and let it unfold, layer by layer. And if you sense something bold, loyal, and just a little bit wild…well, now you know the winemaker.

And if you already know it? Then you know, it’s not a wine you forget.