- Singlefile Estate - Premium Fine Wines Australia | Reserve Chardonnay | Shiraz | Semillon Sauvignon Blanc | Rose

Vineyard Observations

The Singlefile vineyard looks fantastic and the fruit is shaping up to be quite outstanding.  Assuming there are no “weather” calamities between now and harvest (starting toward the end of March) we expect to deliver fine quality fruit to the winery.  This should translate into an exceptionally good 2009 vintage.

Bunch numbers are up for all varieties compared with 2008 production and this should result in increased tonnages.  Not that we consider tonnage to be an important production characteristic. We take note of tonnage only as an indicator of vineyard health.  Of overwhelming importance is fruit quality and its suitability for the making of fine wines.

The vineyard has benefitted from a very wet spring, the growth of a mid-row mixed clover cover crop which enhanced the mulch programme and implementation of the “Smart Dyson” system of cane management.  The Smart Dyson approach involves training about half of all south facing canes upwards while the other half are trained downwards.  This leads to a more “open” canopy allowing improved airflow, spray penetration and sunlight access to the fruit to enhance fruit ripening. The results are clear – the vineyard is disease free, cane thinning and leaf plucking were minimised and veraison has been brought forward compared with last year.

That we are now in the final run towards harvest is also noted by our resident crow population which seems to increase dramatically at this time.  Crows, we have discovered, have a particular liking for red wine grapes and have the capacity to do real damage.  To make life a little more difficult for them our viticulturist Bryce will soon be rolling out the nets.

Prior to netting we expect there will be one final sulphur spray over the vineyard to ensure that it remains fungi free and a final hedging of the vines.

• Back
• Top
• Home