Climate change puts Australian wine growers to the test
Winemaker’s in the McLaren Vale have started becoming green a few years ago, as global warming and climate change are an immediate challenge for wine producers. If we look at the last three years in the McLaren Vale, the 2006 vintage was one of the earliest and shortest on record and the 2007 vintage happened within the worst drought in South Australia. Earlier 2008 the area experienced a record heat wave, so it is no doubt, that the temperatures are rising without any rain in sight.
Climate change and the drought effects on wineries
I have learnt in the past days here in the Vale, that about 80 wineries in the area are using irrigated water from the Willunga Basin Water Company to water their vineyards. Norm Doole, one of the owners of Dowie Doole Winemakers is a co-founder of the Water Company. The plant treats an equivalent to 10,000 Olympic swimming pools of waste-water per year. About one third of that is being used for irrigation. The remaining treated waste-water is pumped out to sea. And the wineries are really happy with the water as the scheme has helped drought proofing viticulture in the McLaren Vale.
Additionally the winemakers are working on new techniques to water their vines. The commonly used trickle irrigation over longer periods has been substituted by shorter spells of more intense watering in Dowie Doole’s vineyards for example, thus the vines developing deeper and stronger root systems and being less vulnerable in droughts.
Small steps to confront climate change – big steps if adopted by many – and so the McLaren Vale is a successful showcase for a growing number of climate conscious winemakers here downunder.
________________________________________________________________________________
Die globale Erwaermung stellt fuer die Winzer im McLaren Vale eine echte Herausforderung dar, die letzten drei Ernten fanden inmitten der schlimmsten Duerreperiode statt, die South Australia je gesehen hat. Die Dowie Doole winery ist einer der Vorreiter in Sachen Wasser-management, denn einer der Partner Norm Doole ist Mit-initiator der Willunga Basin Water Company, welche inzwischen ca. 10,000 Megaliter Wasser aufbereitet. Mit einem Drittel dieser Menge werden inzwischen mehr als 80 Wineries bewaessert, eine sehr wirksame Methode gegen die weiterhin bestehende Duerre.
Zusaetzlich sind die Winzer sehr kreativ in dem Umgang mit dem (nach wie vor wenigen) Wasser, die juengste Tendenz ist es, den Reben Wasser in kuerzeren Abstaenden aber mit groesserem Druck zu geben, denn das foerdert die Tiefe und Robustheit der Rebstoecke und fuehrt letztlich zu einer groesseren Resistenz gegen die Duerre.
Einen schoenen Gruss
Ihr Michael Brecht
Hat Ihnen dieser Blogeintrag gefallen? Wir freuen uns über Ihren Kommentar. or Abonnieren Sie den downunderwines.net-RSS-Feed und sind immer informiert.
Good to hear about some smart ways to use water – we need more regions drought proofing themselves in the future.