ALMOST all Gisborne grapegrowers are winning the powdery mildew battle waged since mid-spring and they see a vintage at least as good as the 2013 record season.
Growers had been under extreme pressure from the mildew disease this season, said Gisborne Grapegrowers president Doug Bell. “We are about 10 days out from the start of the harvest and most of it will not be affected by powdery mildew. “By all accounts, the vintage is going to be outstanding again this year.” Mr Bell said growers had battled powdery mildew pressure for 72 consecutive days this season. “The high level of the disease was caused by a series of weather-related events. “Notably, the extraordinary growth in vine canopies experienced during the spring and early summer, with lots of leaves, then compounded by the dry and hot temperatures.” Those conditions were perfect for the spread of powdery mildew, he said. “Growers who got the disease in their grapes early, and were not able to control it, have had real concerns and might have their crops rejected by the wineries. “But fortunately almost all growers appear to have been able to stay on top of it.” Mr Bell said only a very small amount of the total crop was at risk of rejection.
Growers had been combating the disease with organic sulphur sprays. “Most have hardly got off their tractors while dealing with it and the net result of all that hard work is that there are some beautiful crops out there. “The vast majority of the grape crop in Gisborne is in very good condition.” He anticipates the harvest will start for some blocks of chardonnay on February 16. “Powdery mildew can create a mushroom smell that transfers through to the wine and that’s not desirable for wine making. “The disease pressure eases off as the harvest approaches and that has been happening.”
Long-time grower Reid Fletcher endorses Mr Bell’s comments. “Ninety-nine percent of growers have combated the disease successfully,” Mr Fletcher said. “The longer-term weather outlook looks good and I agree the prospects for the vintage look good.” Indevin regional vineyards manager Andrew Blakeman said the warning signs of powdery mildew were there last year. “We stepped up our prevention programmes to combat it. It’s still a concern but we are on top of it.” Powdery mildew had not been much of an issue in the past decade, Mr Blakeman said. “It has caught a few people out.” Doug Bell said the disease was not known to be a particular issue in this district before last season. “There are all sorts of theories out there about why it’s become an issue but no one particular reason has been established.”
Source - http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/
