We are proud of developing
and operating a vineyard which fully complies with NASAA
organic registration. As there are very few organic
vineyards around, and we operate in our own unique environment,
we have had to develop many of our own organic farming
and management practices, which we have since passed
on to others to increase the knowledge of organic farming
and assist all.
Soils
The soils in our vineyard have been mapped
and linked to global positioning satelite (GPS) readings
with the help of Ian Anderson our consultant soil scientist.
We are working on a five to ten year program
to improve our soil fertility by increasing humus, microbial
activity and carbon content, balancing soil nutrients and
controlling ground temperature and water evaporation.
Since 1996 soil samples have been taken
each year around May, in vineyard locations where vine performance
is meeting expectations and where vine growth and performance
need improvement and when the nutrient base in the soil
is at its lowest.
Neil George our soil lab. adviser now
has us sampling on the basis of the difference between the
best and worst locations in the areas that are under-performing.
We use comparative data between locations in our vineyard
and between samples from different years to design our organic
fertiliser programs.
Water Monitoring
Through a grant from the Land Care
District Committee we were part of a community program
to monitor water quality and nutrient flows in the Upper
Glenarty Creek system which flows through our property.
The program, (from June 1 to October 5th, 2000), monitored
water quality of each property on the creek line, in
terms of net imports and net exports of nitrogen and
phosphorous.
Landuse practices such as fertiliser
applications showed up as peaks in nutrient concentrations
in the water. When compared, the nutrient levels entering
and leaving our property showed a significant decrease
in the concentrations of both phosphorous and nitrogen
as the stream passed across our property.
Nutrient Monitoring
To enable accurate timing for the
application of our organic fertilisers, and vineyard
mulching, to suit the growth stages of our vines, we
have undertaken two major monitoring programs:
The first program established the effects of organic
fertilisers used in the vineyard in terms of their application
rates, time of application, and the lag time of nutrient
release in the soil as a function of rainfall patterns
upon ground water flow. We are now able to reduce the
application rates of our organic fertilisers and time
their application to coincide with the vines bud burst
demands for nutrients.
The second program established the time lag between
mulching of sward crops in vine rows and the release
of nutrients to soil and underground water. It was found
that providing underground aquifers are full, and mulching
is done during a rainfall front, nutrients are released
into the soil within a week.
Temperature monitoring: Soil temperatures are monitored
to estabish effects of mulching on ground temperature
and hatching date for insect pests.
Weeds under vines in a traditional
vineyard are usually eliminated with chemical sprays BUT in
our organic vineyard we use annual rye grasses under our vines.
These die off in summer and are flattened to form a thick
mat for the control of ground temperature and soil moisture
and will break down to a humus that encourages microbial activity
in the soil.
The first program established the effects of organic
fertilisers used in the vineyard in terms of their application
rates, time of application, and the lag time of nutrient
release in the soil as a function of rainfall patterns
upon ground water flow. We are now able to reduce the
application rates of our organic fertilisers and time
their application to coincide with the vines bud burst
demands for nutrients. 
