Tell us in a few sentences about your experience as a viticulturist, how did you arrive here?
Longview was planted in 1997 and since then it has provided fruit not only for its own wine label, but it has also served as a high-quality fruit source for many of the region’s top producers. Today Longview grows ten varieties with a strong focus on the emerging varieties of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Gruner Veltliner.
I joined Longview in 2021 and have worked in the Adelaide Hills for the last 15 years.
Why did you decide to apply to be an EcoGrower, was there something specific that influenced your decision and/or had you attended a previous EcoVineyards session?
We knew that we wanted to increase our vineyard biodiversity and start to take a more wholistic approach to managing the property. Being part of a program like EcoVineyards allows us to better track and analyse our efforts so that we can remain focused on meaningful outcomes.
Can you provide a brief overview of your project ideas, and what you wish to achieve over the 3 years and why is this important to you?
We are looking to explore the role that insectarium plantings have in with the mid rows of the vineyard. Our hope is that these can act like natural habitats and corridors for the movement of beneficial predators. Eliminating the need for any insecticides and increasing the health of the soil through the reduction of mowing and use of herbicide.
Are you just starting to learn, or have you been enhancing biodiversity on your property and is this an extension of what you are currently doing? If so, please tell us more.
We are somewhat at the start of our biodiversity journey, we have made some small improvements to our vineyard practices of the last few years, such as reduction or elimination of under vine herbicides and favouring the use of composts and mulches over synthetic fertilisers.
We hope that the EcoVineyards project will help us continue to improve our practices.
Where do you see grape growing in the future, do you feel there is an urgency to change current practices? If so, why?
I think it is important for growers to start to make some changes to current practices. We have a responsibility to manage the land in the best way possible and I think having a more biodiverse area allows the vineyard to better sit in balance with its surrounds.
Hopefully producing higher quality, more site expressive fruit.
What else would you like to share with the broader EcoVineyards community, what gets you excited about the future?
We are excited see where the EcoVineyards project leads us and look forward to working with other likeminded EcoGrowers.