Global audience for Barossa’s demonstration vineyards

Nine demonstration vineyards are giving growers in the SA North region hands-on access to new ideas and technologies designed to create resilient vineyards in the face of a changing climate.

They have been established over the past three years by the Barossa and Clare Valley regional associations, with funding through Wine Australia’s Regional Program.

‘Demonstration vineyards are so valuable in allowing us to show, not just tell, about best practice change’, said Barossa Grape & Wine Association (BGWA) Viticultural Development Manager Nicki Robins.

‘Not everyone learns best in the classroom, and field visits allow people time to talk and share their own information.’

And there are many people keen to share and to learn.

In the past year alone, the BGWA has hosted Barossa growers and winemakers, Rotary guests from Canada, the USA and the UK, a Chilean viticulturist, Chinese and Hong Kong students of the Barossa Wine School, Argentinian sommelier/wine writer Sorrell Moseley-Williams, Court of Master Sommeliers dux George Gresty, the Barossa Young Ambassadors, and wine business students from the University of Adelaide.

The nine vineyards were specifically established in areas with varying soil types. In each, a range of treatments is being trialled alongside the grower’s usual methods.

These treatments include alternative pruning methods, application of mulch under-vine, new trellis set-ups such as catch wires, establishment of native grasses, and different irrigation treatments.

The vineyards have now also been fitted with soil moisture monitoring and, in most cases, Tiny Tag temperature monitoring.

At its new demonstration vineyard at Nuriootpa, BGWA has also taken the opportunity to set up a compost trial in partnership with Tarac Technologies and Barossa grower Roger Maywald. Four combinations of chicken litter and cow manure, crimped (spent) grape marc, and other organic material (scalps and wastewater sludge) were produced for trial. 

Baseline soil tests have been taken, and BGWA will undertake soil tests and yield/quality analysis annually to check for and report soil/fruit quality changes.

You can view a video of compost being spread in the vineyard here.

For more information contact Nicki on 8563 0650 or nicki@barossa.com.