One lucky member of the Voyager Estate vineyard team, namely Viticulturist Steve James, will be winging his way to France later this year to get a first hand look at French viticultural practices after winning the Margaret River Wine Industry Association’s inaugural Viticultural Excellence Award, sponsored by the Margaret River Travel Club.

An extension of the Margaret River Wine Show, the award recognises the role of the vineyard and viticulturists in wine production. The Margaret River Wine Industry Association, organisers of the Margaret River Wine Show, instituted the award for the first time in 2007. In announcing the award, Association President, Ron Fraser, said, "To make the quality wine Margaret River is famous for, winemakers must have quality fruit. This award acknowledges the vital input of the viticulturist."

While the Margaret River Wine Show is held annually in November, the Viticultural Excellence Award is judged over several months and awarded in April. This allows the independent judging panel to assess finalists’ vineyards at different times of the year and during the crucial harvest period.

Assessment of applicants’ practises in pest and disease management, environmental sustainability, occupational health and safety, irrigation, soil nutrition, economic viability, and innovation contributed to the selection of the winner.

Award judges Associate Professor Mark Gibberd, Chair of Viticulture and Oenology at Curtin University of Technology, and Mike Melsom of Merum wines specifically noted Voyager Estate’s commitment to staff, training and interaction between the vineyard and winemaking teams as keys to their success.

The judges were also impressed by the emphasis the Voyager Estate team gave to planning, particularly with respect to matching soil type and variety. The extreme focus and attention to detail in directing the management of the vineyard for superior fruit production was also highlighted, as was the emphasis on minimising the environmental impacts of vineyards.

Readers can learn more about the vineyard team’s viticultural practices in Steve James’s Practical Viticulture column, appearing in the July/August issue of 'Australian Viticulture'.