Our Wine Grape Knowledge

Our Growers | The Pyramid

The Pyramid is a multi-faceted farming business currently comprising of 602 hectares within the boundaries of the Avon, Tummil and Waihopai rivers in Marlborough. The first vineyard block was created five years ago and brings a European feeling to the hills of Marlborough...

Our Growers | Yealands Winery &  Vineyards

With a 25-year partnership built on innovation and trust, this collaboration between Technical Horticultural Representative, Blair McLeanand the team at Yealands continues to deliver exceptional results, and this year’s harvest is no exception. Join us as we walk the vines, talk crop performance, and celebrate a relationship that keeps raising the bar for New Zealand wine.

• Start your powdery mildew control programme as soon as buds emerge to help protect new tissue from infection. If there’s any chance of carry-over of infection from last season, JMS Stylet Oil provides curative activity and contact protection. Otherwise, use a wettable sulphur such as Unishield or Quintec, which has a superior vapour action and provides superior forward coverage when used at the high label rate.
• Once leaves emerge, monitor forecast rain events and ensure covers are made for wet weather diseases such as downy mildew, black spot and Phomopsis. Dithane Rainshield Neo Tec is a good option against all three diseases and can be used in a nil residue programme up until growth stage E-L18 (pre cap-fall), whilst Polyram DF has a label claim for downy mildew and black spot.

• Regular monitoring is essential to control both powdery and downy mildew, as early season symptoms can be confusing with both diseases appearing as a subtle yellowing of the leaf tissue. Fruitfed Horticulture Crop Monitoring services help ensure early identification of these hard-todetect diseases. Rainfall of 10 mm or more over a 24-hour period in warm conditions (>10°C) triggers a downy mildew primary infection. A thorough cover spray of Dithane Rainshield Neo Tec, Polyram, Captan 600 Flo or Kocide Opti is essential to prevent infection. Always check your winery spray schedule before application.