Investment paves the way for future growth

 The winery has just taken possession of a ‘Crawler,’ which will perform a multitude of tasks in its organic vineyards including under vine weeding, crop spraying, and trimming.

The Italian whizz replaces the hefty 2.5 tonne tractor Giesen previously used at the organic Clayvin and Ridge vineyards. Geier, the same company that makes snow groomers on the ski fields, makes the machine.

Viticulture manager Mike Poff says the Crawler, weighing in at just over a tonne and with an overall width of 1.1m, has less downward pressure than a human footprint. It is the start of a minimal compaction approach to the company’s high-density viticulture.

“The rows in these vineyards are only 1.5m wide and the bulkier tractors run right beside the grape vines which can damage the plant’s roots. The surface area of the Crawler’s tracks means a significantly better displacement of weight.”

Poff says vineyards such as Clayvin and Ridge Block are higher density, with a lower yield of high quality fruit.

“These sorts of vineyards usually produce a bottle of wine per vine. High density means that the vine is putting all its energy into a much more focused crop. The vines are competing against each other, which decreases the vigour of the vine. This competition means that there’s less fruit and the vine is smaller with a more concentrated style of fruit.”

Giesen has also introduced three purpose built Compost Spreaders from Germany to increase the use of organic matter in its vineyards.

“After each harvest, there are a massive 3500 tonnes of skins, seeds and other material that come from the fruit after pressing. Via the Compost Spreaders, this will now be redistributed around the vineyards, starting with the blocks in the Lower Wairau.

“Basically it will improve our soil structure and help the soil to hold onto water and nutrients.  If the land is continually replenished, the soil will be healthy, so will the plants and the fruit,” Poff says.