http://www.margaretriverblog.com All about Margaret River, Western Australia Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:37:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en After an incredible run of warm to hot weather we finally had a cool day on which we harvested the Gherardi Viognier for 2010 last week.  Conditions had been testing for the vines as the weeks rolled on with temperatures in the 30 degrees Celcius day after day together with ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2010/03/viognier-off-merlot-still-to-come/ While the bird pressure was not too great at the time, there is a "rule of thumb" here at the vineyard,  once veraison (fruit softening/colouring) first commences, nets must go on.  If not, the pesky Silvereyeand native parrotts don't take long to work out that grapes are on the menu ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2010/02/nets-on-birds-out-pippa-learns-quickly/ Over the past few weeks the vineyard has been summer pruned or better still trimmed.  This process cuts off excess growth on both sides and the top of the vines.  I employ a contractor to do the Merlot as the rows allow the tractor fit between them. The side trim removes ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2010/02/vines-are-neat-fruit-colouring-time-for-the-nets/ Last September we welcomed "Pippa",the young pup, to the property and over the past months it has been a tortuous task training this bundle of energy.  Caddie, our dog for the past 14+years, has been a wonderfull friend and helper around the vineyard over this time, however age has crept ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2010/01/vale-caddie-your-turn-pippa/ Following my last post vine growth has gone crazy. Now is the spring rapid growth phase of a vine leading up to flowering and continues until berry growth kicks in a couple of weeks post berry set. This has meant that the first of a number of foliage wire lifts has ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2009/11/look-neat-vines-even-through-the-smoke/ Well not quite a weekly post but nearly. Growth in the vineyard has commenced in earnest.  As the vines head towards flowering in 3 - 4 weeks, growth needs to be concentrated into those shoots which have the emerging bunches on them and not those with no bunches.  This is also ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2009/10/shoot-thinning-time/ I do not blame you all if many had given up, thought Vineman had fallen off the perch, gone to Italy for good or was just plain SLACK!! I have to confess it was just the latter - well not slack but busy on one hand and has found it hard ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2009/10/kangaroos-watch-out-for-pippa-the-wonder-dog/ Back again with a Gherardi vineyard update. January:   Great growing conditions were experienced during the month with virtually no rain to speak of, lots of sunshine and many warm to hot days. This resulted in the start of veraison (berry softening in whites and colouring in reds) during the last few days of the ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2009/02/606/ Since my October posting the weather conditions have been such that one has been playing catch up. Late October:  Above average rain ensured conditions were favourable for fungal diseases.  It was difficult finding a window of opportunity to apply sprays.  Many vineyards in the region were caught badly with severe outbreaks of Downy ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2009/01/its-more-than-a-while/ It's been a while - where shall I start?  My last posts were from my trip to Italy.  On return there was heaps to do.  I will try to bring you all up to date with what has happended over the past months in the now famous  Gherardi Viognier/Merlot vineyard. July:  Here in ... http://www.margaretriverblog.com/2008/10/its-been-a-while/