Benchmarking southern Victorian pinot noir vineyards 2nd year

Abstract

The aim of the project was to provide grapegrowers and winemakers with detailed information for a second year about many aspects of their vineyards.

Summary

Detailed vineyard descriptions and vine measurements were made of active leaf area per shoot, young to active leaves, number of shoot tips, degree of cane lignification, leaf cover over bunches differentiated by side of canopy, leaf health, fruit load per shoot and resulting vine balance values at veraison, and leaf cover and health pre harvest. Bunchzone temperatures were recorded from veraison to harvest by data loggers and temperature summations as well as daily diurnal curves were generated. Grape samples were collected for berry sensory assessment and standard chemical analysis. Five month old wines were assessed by a panel of five judges and chemically analysed.

Individual vineyard data and photos were compiled, compared to each other and those of last year and distributed to the participants as a report.

Communication between participants was enhanced in group meetings and a forum in which all wines were blind tasted by all participants. The good cross section of vineyards, grapes and wines showed similarities from which regional styles can be described. The large amount of individual data can be used to better understand and modify vineyard and winemaking practices to improve grape and wine quality.