Wine Network's team of viticultural consultants has a strong commitment
to growing grapes for wine. Our aim is to help the grower and winemaker
satisfy the need for producing grapes of the very highest quality at
a price that allows both parties a satisfactory return. We believe this
balanced approach is only possible with vines that are themselves in
balance. This is our guiding philosophy of vineyard management.
We work
closely with the client or vineyard manager to develop and refine vineyard
practices. We help with planning management programs that deal with
the main areas of vineyard activity and assist the management to schedule
these tasks so that they are carried out in a timely manner:
- Vine
health - We use the principles and practices of Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) to guide our approach to pest and disease control. We aim to
minimise the use of chemical sprays and to restrict these to the most
environmentally responsible that are available.
- Canopy
and crop load management - We strive for uniformity and vine balance,
using the techniques of careful pruning, shoot positioning and thinning.
- Irrigation
management - Our aim is to promote balanced vine growth and avoid
stress while preserving precious water resources.
- Vine
nutrition - Maintaining healthy vines involves a suitable nutritional
regime and this is part of our program.
We assist
in the establishment of protocols and procedures and the setting of
fruit quality guidelines and specifications to meet the winemaker's
requirements for end product use.
We have
systems for vineyard monitoring, including the collection and collation
of phenological and other data to help with management decisions.
We help growers and buyers
to negotiate and establish Grape Purchase Agreements.
In vineyard
financing and acquisitions, we will provide a technical audit of existing
operations and can assess vineyard condition and management as part
of the due diligence process.
We give
the vineyard manager or owner a set of independent eyes over their vineyard.
