The wine grape harvest concluded a couple of weeks ago – finally – with all the fruit thankfully meeting the required sugar levels.
There was a bit of botrytis in the last patches to be picked, which led to some fruit shaking off in front of the harvester.
The harvest team of John, Ron, Andrew, Jamie, Kristian and Charlie did a great job, along with both Warbys and Marg`s Transport businesses.
Like many others, most of our contracts are now up for renewal, so it’s going to be interesting to see what the level of interest is from the various wineries.
Right now they can pretty well wait and see, and make the growers sweat it out, but on the other hand if too many growers give up and don’t prepare their vines for a crop in 2024, a larger reduction than desired in vineyard areas may be the very counter-productive outcome.
In the meantime, probably 35 per cent of the nation’s vineyards are producing in excess of what’s required, even after this year’s very low crop.
When China comes back online, it is expected it will only marginally improve the situation – far from being the silver bullet many were relying on.
Our government is only interested if someone mentions the environment or green issues, so it’s up to us to work through this one.
It’s also a great time to keep in touch with your mates – I would really like to stress that.
On a lighter note, the snails have found a way to make use of our rotten grapes, which are now on the ground after harvest.
The little devils can eat a whole grape and then they simply take a breather for about half an hour, and then, when their stomach really starts rumbling, it’s whoosh, off they go at a rapid speed of 4000 snail lengths per min.
You know the sound a Harley makes? Well the snails sound like that – just not as loud.
The ibises have also decided to drop in again and have very quickly picked up on the mouldy grape technique, and have just as quickly discovered that by eating 30-or-so grapes it will get them back home at serious warp speed.
A trial of 35 grapes led to a loss of stability and directional control and significant feather loss due to flames emerging from the rear of their undercarriage.
Now with this very challenging season out of the way, it’s time to start planning what to do next.
Did someone mention pruning?
*Colin Free is a grape grower at Lake Boga.
