Vintage looms in ironstone country

Yangarra’s Ironheart Vineyard Shiraz, which grows just across my front fence, is well into veraison, or colouring, and looking very healthy, in spite of the warm, wet and humid summer. These biodynamic/organic vines have been hand-plucked three times this season to remove extraneous leaf so the bunches get dappled light and plenty of breeze. Note, too, how all shoots have been removed from below the cordon (the horizontal woody trunk) to admit maximum air movement. This breeze dries the bunches and bark during humid spells, so reducing the requirement for fungicide spray.