The harvest is over and the fruit of the Golden Vines' labour is in the De Wetshof winery where it is being turned into The Site Chardonnay. Now, with the Autumn well underway, the vines are truly Golden as the leaves turn a yellow shade. This is the beginning of the all-important rest cycle. For since budding in Spring, the vines have been working hard. 24/7, as they say in marketing speak. Buds had to set, leaves had to bloom, grapes had to be produced to the winemaker's exacting degree of excellence. After all this, the vine can now rest. The succulence will draw deep into the main vine and the leaves will fall creating a life-affirming fertile mulch on the limestone soils. So yes, the Golden Vine deserves its rest. And the show of gold, turning into red are the last shows of goodbye before the vine falls into its well-deserved winter slumber. With cold and rain on the way, the roots will remain active in creating a living platform for the vine, one from which it will emerge with vigour and a lust for life.