The vines...

Before the vines start to shoot or Fire as we call it, weeds are removed to prevent them from taking moisture from the vine. Different varieties of grapes can shoot at different times of the month in different areas of New Zealand. Our vines of Merlot and Syrah start Mid to late August.

Weeds are very vigorous in vineyards and as the vines are 1 metre apart in 2 metre rows, with the canes being laid down 1 metre off of the ground, weeds can encroach into the fruiting zone. This stops air and sunlight getting through. Some vineyards keep the weeds as competitors for moisture to help stress the vines, which can help the quality of the grapes. In some cases of poor drainage weeds are necessary to draw the moisture out of the soil.

At this time of year, early September, we put a cover spray of Sulphur onto the vines to kill various forms of mites. Blister Mite from pine trees being our biggest headache. This operation will be repeated once a fortnight.

Late October will see us tucking the shoots under the four wires, to keep them upright and stop them snapping in the wind. November we trim off the growing tips and laterals to stop the vine becoming too vigorous. December we leaf pluck at the fruit zone, to let in air and sunlight to keep the grapes dry. This also prevents mildew and Botrytis.

If, in December, the leaves look a very pale green showing Magnesium deficiency, we put on a cover foliar spray.

Late January will see the last leaf pluck and trim off of laterals. We also hand thin the grapes to leave only a set size of bunches on the vine. That is to say, small undeveloped bunches and bunches to close to one another are cut away.

It also allows air around the bunches to dry them out and the sun to kiss the grapes. This intensifies the Tannins in the grapes/wine.

First week in February we put the net covers on. They are a half cover over the vines and do a reasonable job in keeping most birds out. The Wax Eye is a small bird that will get in where a draught wouldn’t and these prove a challenge. In my fight against birds I use four scarecrows, which I move around every other day. Four Hawke kites and I shoot a shotgun. I am introducing a gas gun in February 2007 to help the cause.