In many vineyards, pruning is scheduled around labour and logistics rather than vine physiology. However, the period between harvest and natural leaf fall is critical for carbohydrate accumulation, nutrient retranslocation, and dormancy progression. Pruning before full senescence can reduce reserve recovery and weaken vine performance the following season. Post-harvest canopies remain physiologically active long after fruit removal. During this phase, the vine reallocates car

Botrytis bunch rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, continues to be one of the most economically significant diseases in wine production. Even in regions that are not consistently humid, short periods of rainfall combined with dense canopies and prolonged leaf wetness can create ideal infection windows. The consequences are well known: yield loss, reduced sugar accumulation, compromised flavour development, and oxidative instability in the winery. As sustainability expectations r

Post-harvest is not a shutdown phase — it is a reserve accumulation phase. Once fruit is removed, the vine reallocates photosynthate and nutrients into trunks, cordons, and roots. These reserves determine spring vigour, bud fertility, early shoot growth, and resilience under stress.

Commit to annual soil testing. Track the numbers. Manage trends early. Protect structure, nutrient efficiency, and vine longevity before constraints develop.

Hot and dry weather events have become increasingly common across Australian wine regions, prompting questions from grapegrowers about the impacts on vine performance and fruit quality and what management strategies might help mitigate negative effects. Sunburn and Berry Damage All grapevine varieties are susceptible to sunburn, though the degree of susceptibility varies with variety and canopy condition. Exposure to high temperatures post-veraison is particularly damaging be

Flowering is one of the most influential stages in a grapevine’s annual cycle—yet it’s often the most overlooked when it comes to nutrition. For growers aiming to improve fruit set, reduce variability, and set the vine up for a balanced season, what happens nutritionally in the few weeks around bloom can determine the success of the entire vintage. Here’s why nutrition at flowering matters, what can go wrong, and how foliar sprays between flowering and veraison provide a reli