IT just keeps getting better for orchardist and winemaker Gaye Moyle.
Picking started at the Beaulieu Cherry Orchard yesterday and this year there are more cherries than last season.
“Considering last year was our first batch in three years we are pleased that the trees have continued to produce,” Gaye said.
“I am quite happy, especially because the orchard is still quite young and after we hadn’t had any for so long I am so excited we have more again this year.”
Gaye also has introduced a hand-made range of fruit wines including apricot, peach, cherry, honey, white peach and passionfruit, mulberry and plum.
“I started with the cherry wine and then I decided to keep going,” she said.
“This is the first time we have had them for sale and they are all organic and no preservatives are used.
“I do all the producing by hand and it takes at least five months to ferment, which is much longer than grape wine.
“About 10kg of fruit makes about 30 bottles.”
Gaye also has a range of other fruit and vegetables at the orchard.
“We are still waiting for the strawberries, raspberries and blackberries to ripen,” she said.
“Next year I am going to make a raspberry and blackberry wine for something different.
“We also have snowpeas, cucumbers, beans, nectarines, plums and apricots out here.
“There is definitely something for everyone.”
Next year Gaye is taking her wines to the annual Tasmanian Fruit Wine Show and Festival.
“It would be great to win an award for my wines and I am looking forward to going to it,” she said.
Beaulieu Cherry Orchard and Boutique Winery is at Beaulieu Lane, 4km off Copeton Dam Rd.