Sunday, January 13, 2008

This week: 11th. January 2008

Weather Report Week Ending 11/1/08
Maximum Temperature for the week 41.5C (107F) on Thurs. 6 readings above our monthly average of 29.4C.
Minimum Temperature for the week 11.8C (53F) on Mon. 5 readings above our monthly average of 14.4C.
Rainfall for the Week 0.0mm (0 points) 0 days of rain.
Weather data thanks to BOM & Nuriootpa Viticulture Research Centre.

Yet another week with some very hot days in it, however there have at least been some cooler days to balance things up a bit. Our average max. for January so far is 33.3C (nearly 4.0C above our usual average). No rain recorded again this week, not that we want too much from here into harvest now.

This week in the vineyard:
All fungicide spraying has now been completed. We are now into withholding periods for most varieties. We have had our first blocks tested this week, with most between 6 and 8 Baume. This will mean with ideal ripening conditions we could be harvesting our early whites in a couple of weeks. However more hot weather and the vines could shut down and slow the ripening process. We have now got most of our harvesting equipment ready to go. We are just starting to skirt around the bottom of the vines to make the job for our mechanical harvesting contractor easier. This weeks photo shows part of a Shiraz bunch with almost full colour now.

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