Guy's chat…         

OCTOBER 2008

This year due to a cooler winter, the vines burst their young buds by the 13^th of September, two weeks later than last year. September and October are always nervous time in the vineyard, since the frost period is not yet over, and vine leaves and fruit structures are very susceptible to frost.  One night at minus 2 degrees and it’s all over.

Last week  we sprayed the vineyard with the biodynamic mixture of 500 and 501 to activated the microbial activity in the soil .We will repeat this biodynamic activity in six weeks time .We are also managing the pinot block without herbicide and getting rid of the weeds the old fashion way –by hand.

Soil with good microbial activity, handles dry spells better than conventional soil treated by synthetic fertilizers.  The soil will have to show how tolerant it is to drought after we just experience the driest September in living memory.

Mean while, will keep our spirit high and dream of mud.

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Fusing Burgundian winemaking with Yarra Valley terroir…