CropWatch

Latest Episodes:

Reflecting on Vintage 2022 Apr 13, 2022

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Vintage 2022 is all but complete. Gill and James reflect on grape quality and key weather events this season as well as discuss climate predictions for next season.

Slow Ripening Feb 17, 2022

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Vintage 2022 is slowly progressing. In this episode, Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook catch up to answer why ripening is slow and what is the reason for green berries in bunches this season?

La Nina Declared Nov 25, 2021

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James and Gill discuss the declaration of a La Nina weather event and what that means locally for the McLaren Vale wine community. The risks from downy mildew and bunch botrytis are discussed. What is the difference between botrytis noble rot and the destructive bunch rot?

Welcome to Vintage 2022 Sep 16, 2021

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The CropWatch podcast returns for Vintage 2022.

In this episode, Gill and James discuss the value of Grenache in the McLaren Vale Wine Region, what we can learn from the European Vintage currently underway, and how the wine community should “play the season, not the forecast.”

Vintage 2021 in Review Mar 23, 2021

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While the harvest is not quite picked, James and Gill discuss why Vintage 2021 is already being classed as excellent. They also speculate on how Vintage 2019 and 2020 will be remembered, and what 2022 could bring.

No disasters here Dec 23, 2020

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James Hook and Gill Gordon-Smith discuss how summer is proving to be mild and dry for McLaren Vale grapegrowers, but there is likely to be flooding elsewhere in Australia over the next two weeks.

Downy Mildew: What Makes and Outbreak? Nov 05, 2020

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Live from the vineyard, Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook discuss what makes a downy mildew outbreak.1- Not knowing there is a problem.2- Not being able to access vineyard to keep up protection.3- Not having access to post infection (eradicant) fungicide when needed.

2021 Vintage - La Nina Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

La Nina is expected. What does it mean for McLaren Vale? Wet conditions are likely to continue and this is looking like a vintage of rain and fungus; rather than one of heat waves and berry burn. Note: At the start of this Podcast James welcomes you to the start of Vintage 2020. He knows it is Vintage 2021!

2020 Summary Jun 09, 2020

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Recorded at the start of Winter 2020, James Hook reviews the Vintage for McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association.The weather conditions through winter to autumn harvest, are considered and key viticultural points are discussed.Highlights include the lack of rainfall in August 2019 limiting the creeks from running and preventing flooding, springtime frost risks, hot and windy weather in November and extreme heat in December.

Talking About Vintage 2020 Mar 24, 2020

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Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook drove around our region as harvest enters its last weeks. They keep their talk focused on Vintage 2020! Gill asks some of the frequently asked questions from this season including going into detail about Rust Mite. What is a rust mite? What does rust mite damage look like? How long has rust mite been in the McLaren Vale Wine Region?

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