CropWatch

Recorded on January 24th during a cool period after rain, James and Gill discuss how the vintage is looking later than typical. Topics addressed include how there has been very little berry splitting seen, rain reducing the risk of smoke taint and prospects for harvest 2020.

Recorded at the start of January this edition of the CropWatch podcast covers the effects of hot soil temperatures on vines, smoke taint and bush-fire recovery.

As flowering begins, James and Gill visit a “training” vineyard to share hacks on pest and disease monitoring.

"Recorded September 2019 at Bud Burst. James and Gill discuss their predictions for the coming vintage. What is similar to last spring? We have a pretty similar climate forecast. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains the main driver of Australia's climate over the coming months. In lay terms the low-pressure fronts coming from the Indian Ocean are going further south than typical. A positive IOD is typically associated with below average rainfall and warmer than average days for large parts of southern and central Australia. A drier than average end to the year is likely. Spring days are likely to be warmer than average. With below average rainfall forecast and therefore clearer skies, nights are likely to be cooler than average in parts of the south at times, with increased risk of frost in susceptible areas. What is different to this time last year? Rainfall in May and June which helped fill up soil moisture in our topsoil. For vintage 2019 we started a bit short of soil moisture – we called it a ‘green drought’ – but at least this Vintage we start with a full soil profile. What might happen this Vintage? The prediction is for a warmer and drier spring season than average. If this prediction occurs it has some short-term benefits for vineyards, but also some long-term consequences. In the short term, a warm and dry spring weather reduces fungal disease pressure. A dry spring greatly reduces the chances of an outbreak of Downy Mildew, and the rate of Powdery Mildew spread, increased by humidity or suppressed by uV light, is also reduced making it much easier to keep up protection. The risks of Botrytis are also reduced if the weather during flowering (mid to late November) is warm and dry. Over the longer term it puts pressure on our irrigation resources – some sites will need to irrigate early in summer, which then has flow on effects on the amounts of water available for harvest, especially if we have heatwaves again. "

Finally with some rain hitting the roof, filling tanks and soaking the soil Gill & James discuss Vintage 2019 and look at the future. "

Recorded live on the last day of summer 2019 in McLaren Vale (February 28th). Harvest is in full swing with the 2019 vintage being picked and processed. James and Gill discuss two vineyards one of which is suffering while the other thrives. They look at what was learned after vintage 2008 and how that applies to this vintage. James also fesses up to some mistakes he’s made.

Recorded in February 2019, late summer, James and Gill talk about fruit ripening (EL 37). *James makes a gaff where he says “Petiole” which is the leaf stem, when he means “Racchi” which is the bunch stem.

Recorded in January 2019, the high of summer, on the hottest day in living memory. James and Gill look at the key growth stage of veraison (EL-35) and how extreme weather events affect ripening.

Recorded in November 2018, late spring in McLaren Vale. James and Gill discuss grapevine flowering (EL-19 to 25) and how storms can reduce yields by affecting berry set.

Recorded in October 2018: James & Gill discus how members of the grape and wine community can help protect vineyards from phylloxera and other pests and diseases.