BUILDING VINE HEALTH
The Vineyard Team are working hard to build up vine health and resilience ahead of the new season. Here's a snapshot from Head of Viticulture, Mike Saunders, on this very busy time...
"As a certified organic vineyard, we don’t use synthetic or man-made products, relying instead on naturally occurring materials to maintain vine health. Two of the oldest and most effective plant protectants, sulphur and copper, have been used in agriculture for centuries, with records of their use dating back to ancient Greece. Their main role in our vineyard is to prevent powdery mildew. Because these products work through contact, they only protect the areas they touch, so we spray on calm days to minimise drift and ensure good coverage. As natural products, they aren’t absorbed into the plant and wear off relatively quickly, requiring reapplication every 7 to 10 days to keep the canopy and fruit clean.
In contrast, synthetic products penetrate the plant, providing internal protection but leaving chemical residues, however small, in the harvested fruit. This is a major reason we prioritise organic methods—we believe in producing fruit without these residues.
Our approach to fertilisation follows the same philosophy. We use natural products like a blend of fish carcasses and seaweed, which provide essential micronutrients for flowering and fruit set. In addition, we apply naturally occurring phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and silicate to strengthen the vines and support their natural defences against disease.
At this time of year, you’ll see the team working on weed management. Weeds compete with the vines for water and nutrients, so we’re removing competition from directly beneath the vines. Our cover crops are also being crimped and mulched down after a season of scavenging nutrients from the soil and atmosphere. These crops help support beneficial organisms and insects, but they can also pose risks by providing pathways for pests like weevils and increasing humidity. Balancing the benefits of cover crops with the need to protect the vines is an important part of our management strategy.
Meanwhile, we're also busy maintaining trellis systems for wire lifting, fertigating and irrigating, counting bunches to get an early estimate of yield potential, and shoot thinning to ensure we leave just the right amount of shoots to bear fruit."