Managing our Vineyards in a Changing Climate
A drought winter and the driest September and October for decades set the stage for a season of drought survival and a slightly traumatized viticulturist.
Drawing on all my resources to drought proof the vineyard, orders for compost and straw mulch were brought forward by two years and every vineyard was bedded down for the dry season. Our water reserves were very low and only selected sites were watered and the rest were dry grown. Thirty percent of the Eden Valley vineyard was ‘mothballed’. Then in mid-December 50mm of badly needed beautiful rain fell on the vineyards, giving them a lifeline for the rest of the season. It also tied in well with our biodynamic soil sprays.
The heat wave in early February was at the beginning of veraison (colour change in the berries) and there was very little damage to the fruit. The ‘flavour switches’ happen at veraison so cool day temperatures are important for quality. From veraison to harvest, the weather was very moderate with only one day over 30C and a bonus rain event in early March. Yields were lower due to poor set from the cool period during flowering.
Our Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills was a star performer this year. 800mm of rainfall (usually 1148mm) and moderate temperatures over the ripening period gave us outstanding fruit from all our varieties - from pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling to merlot even.
We continued our organic vineyard management this year without any problems, including a small pocket of chardonnay which finally got ‘the milk treatment’ - a 10% solution of full cream milk which is a very effective organic spray that dries out the fungus.
The rain has just arrived as I write. The autumn biodynamic soil sprays are going out onto all the vineyards and the last of the grapes have just been picked from what we nicknamed the Hill of Unearthly Delights. This is a delicious collection of new emerging varieties at Eden Valley containing tempranillo, graciano, nebbiolo and barbera. For a young part of the vineyard that has survived without irrigation, the fruit flavours are very exciting, which was consistent with the whole of our crop this vintage. Maybe we will see these wines at cellar door as a special release.
- posted: 11/08/2009 1:47:12 PM