After sharing our vineyard planting story last year, this year we’d like to share more about how we’re learning to work with nature to care for this special land we call home.
No More Chemicals: Welcome to our natural allies
As you might have heard by now, we’ve said goodbye to pesticides and herbicides in the vineyards. Instead, we’ve invited some of nature’s best helpers to the party, endemic wasps and ducks.
These tiny wasps are champions against specific pests like mealy bugs. To keep them thriving, we plant local flora that supports their lifecycle through the winter months. We carefully monitor pest levels using traps dotted around the vineyards to know exactly when and how many wasps we need to release. It is a delicate balancing act that keeps our vines healthy without chemicals.
For snails, our ducks do the hard work, munching away while adding to our compost with their manure. That compost becomes part of our nutrient-rich compost tea, a cycle of nature feeding itself.
Organic Fertilisers: A farm with character
If you’ve visited lately, you might have noticed the occasional farmyard scent, yes, that’s the smell of organic chicken manure! While not the most pleasant aroma, it’s a sign of a deeper commitment. Transitioning fully to organic fertilisers is no small feat. It requires far more quantity and careful timing than synthetic alternatives. But the rewards are richer soil, healthier vines, and wines that truly reflect their terroir, which makes every logistical challenge worthwhile.
