Grape pickers rush to beat rain

Grape pickers have been getting up before dawn at Coolangatta Estate this week to ensure the Shoalhaven Coast wine region’s most famous wine is not affected by heavy rain. Some NSW vineyards have lost more than 90 per cent of their crop this season so everyone was smiling with relief when the white wine harvest was completed at Shoalhaven Heads on Monday and the first of the reds were picked yesterday, reports the Illawarra Mercury.