Vineyard Dynamics
Evaluating and improving of vineyard sites and the ongoing management and maintenance of vineyard estates.
Vineyard Dynamics encompasses evaluating and improving vineyard sites, selecting vine varietals, winter pruning, vine propagation and nutrition, planting and trellising vines, weed control and sustainable viticulture.
Vineyard pest management and summer canopy management and overall evaluation of the canopy quality.
In the early part of 2010 Vineyard Dynamics focused on establishing Punchbowl Valley Vineyard in Thursley, trialing a number of different grape varietals, trellising methods and also the benefits of terracing in what is a typical steep sloping Surrey Hills setting.
23 rows were planted in early May following site preparation, fertilsing, rotavating etc, in what were exceptionally dry conditions. The drainage qualities of the slope added to the very dry Greensand top layer. Planting was all done by hand, and included 150 Chardonnay, 150 Sauvignon Blanc, 225 Pinot Noir, 100 Ortega and 35 Seyval Blanc. All vines are on SO4 rootstock. Each vine is supported by a 4ft cane and plastic tube combination. Trellising and deer fencing was added in May / June 2011 along with a further 100 Sauvignon Blanc. The Vineyard had to be supported by a comprehensive irrigation system and following budburst in early June 2010 there was an infestation of the Garden Chaver beetle that came close to stripping out all the new growth. An application of Provado resolved the problem. The vines survived in total bar 6 of the Seyval Blanc, which were planted last and due to the exceptionally dry conditions.
