Shows
CropWatchCropWatch Vintage 2024 Ep5Vintage 2024 is halfway through picking in the McLaren Vale Wine Region. James, Jen and special guest agronomist Harry Shaw assess grapes after the four-day heatwave. How are the varietals Nero d'Avolo, Aglicianico, Mataro, Montepuliciano compared to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
2024-03-1411 minCropWatch"So, was lots of rain a good thing?Jen and James chat about the challenges of a wet summer in McLaren Vale.
2024-01-2514 minCropWatchCropWatch Podcast Vintage 2024, Episode 3Berries Peasize is this a good time to have rain?
James and Jen catch up between Thunderstorms to talk rainfall, disease resistance and upcoming workshops hosted by McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism.
2023-12-0716 minCropWatchBio-Scout and reflections on vintage 2023 growing season.In this episode James and Jen discuss the new Bio-Scout fungal spore monitoring system and reflect on the growing conditions in vintage 2023.
2023-10-1914 minCropWatchBehind the scenes at the MVGWTA Reworking & Grafting WorkshopThe CropWatch Podcast returns for a new vintage looking at changing varieties and reworking vineyards.
Jen and James review presentations from Foundation Viticulture | South Australia | Nick Dry, which featured websites to help you pick new varieties using the Australian Alternative Wine Show database: Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (aavws.com) and Rauscedo: Grafted vine configurator: choose the perfect one | Vivai Rauscedo
Clint Ledgard (CL Contracting) presented tips for grafting, and Matthew Hatwell (Chalk Hill Viticulture) and Jodie Armstrong (MVGWTA) reviewed reworked vines.
2023-08-2416 minCropWatchCropWatch Mid-harvest Vintage 23Rain overnight has changed conditions on vineyards. Canopies and bunches are wet. James Hook is joined by Jen Pedder Agronomist and grape grower to check for Botrytis in the McLaren Vale CropWatch weather station monitoring site.
Discussed in this podcast;
Harvest is 40% complete in the McLaren Vale Wine Region
Late season Botrytis Control.
The Grape Assess App.
Snail control during autumn.
2023-03-3014 minCropWatchAs vintage 2023 progressesHarvest is approaching 30% complete in the McLaren Vale Wine Region. James and Gill meet up to discuss why harvest is late, spring and autumn are cool, and some of the factors that have led to low yields.
2023-03-2211 minCropWatchCropWatch Vintage 2023CropWatch Vintage 2023 Alternative varieties - how are they looking for Vintage 2023. James Hook and Gill Gordon Smith look at the performance of Fiano, Vermentino, Negro Amaro, Nero d'Avolo, Aglianico and Sagrantino.
2023-02-2816 minCropWatchHighs and Lows of the Vintage 2023 Growing SeasonCropWatch Vintage 2023 - Ep 1 - Highlights & Lowlights Vintage 2023 has been a challenging season for McLaren Vale grapegrowers. James Hook is joined by Jen Pedder as regular host Gill Gordon-Smith is overseas. Recorded just on veraison (E-L 35) with 45-60 days before harvest begins.
2023-01-2317 minCropWatchReflecting on Vintage 2022Vintage 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.
2022-04-1313 minCropWatchSlow RipeningVintage 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?
2022-02-1711 minCropWatchLa Nina DeclaredJames 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?
2021-11-2518 minCropWatchWelcome to Vintage 2022The 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.”
2021-09-1612 minCropWatchVintage 2021 in ReviewWhile 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.
2021-03-2316 min
CropWatchNo disasters hereJames 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.2020-12-2310 min
CropWatchDowny Mildew: What Makes and Outbreak?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.
2020-11-0510 min
CropWatch2021 Vintage - La NinaLa 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!
2020-10-0111 min
CropWatch2020 SummaryRecorded 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.2020-06-0928 min
CropWatchTalking About Vintage 2020Gill 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?2020-03-2411 min
CropWatchSummer In Spring, Spring in Summer.Recorded on January 24th during a cool period after rain, James and Gill discuss how the vintage is looking later than typical. Topics addressed include how there has been very little berry splitting seen, rain reducing the risk of smoke taint and prospects for harvest 2020.
2020-01-2811 min
CropWatch2020 FireRecorded at the start of January this edition of the CropWatch podcast covers the effects of hot soil temperatures on vines, smoke taint and bush-fire recovery.2020-01-0519 min
CropWatchVineyard WalkAs flowering begins, James and Gill visit a “training” vineyard to share hacks on pest and disease monitoring.2019-10-2926 min
CropWatchSpring"Recorded September 2019 at Bud Burst. James and Gill discuss their predictions for the coming vintage. What is similar to last spring? We have a pretty similar climate forecast. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains the main driver of Australia's climate over the coming months. In lay terms the low-pressure fronts coming from the Indian Ocean are going further south than typical. A positive IOD is typically associated with below average rainfall and warmer than average days for large parts of southern and central Australia. A drier than average end to the year is likely. Spring days are likely to...2019-09-1118 min
CropWatchVintage 2019 RecapFinally with some rain hitting the roof, filling tanks and soaking the soil Gill & James discuss Vintage 2019 and look at the future. "2019-05-0209 min
CropWatch24/7 picking.Recorded live on the last day of summer 2019 in McLaren Vale (February 28th). Harvest is in full swing with the 2019 vintage being picked and processed. James and Gill discuss two vineyards one of which is suffering while the other thrives. They look at what was learned after vintage 2008 and how that applies to this vintage. James also fesses up to some mistakes he’s made.2019-02-2812 min
CropWatchHeat AftermathRecorded in February 2019, late summer, James and Gill talk about fruit ripening (EL 37). *James makes a gaff where he says “Petiole” which is the leaf stem, when he means “Racchi” which is the bunch stem. 2019-02-1414 min
CropWatchHot Hot Hot!Recorded in January 2019, the high of summer, on the hottest day in living memory. James and Gill look at the key growth stage of veraison (EL-35) and how extreme weather events affect ripening. 2019-01-2410 min
CropWatchStrange DaysRecorded in November 2018, late spring in McLaren Vale. James and Gill discuss grapevine flowering (EL-19 to 25) and how storms can reduce yields by affecting berry set. 2018-12-0609 min
CropWatchBiosecurityRecorded in October 2018: James & Gill discus how members of the grape and wine community can help protect vineyards from phylloxera and other pests and diseases. 2018-11-2011 min
CropWatchA Green Drought In The VineyardRecorded in October 2018, mid spring in McLaren Vale. James & Gill discuss spring weather conditions during early shoot growth (EL-7-15) and how dry weather affects vineyard growth. 2018-11-1513 min
CropWatchGrenacheRecorded in September 2018, early spring in McLaren Vale, as vines undergo bud burst (growth stage EL-4). James and Gill discuss the importance of Grenache as a variety in McLaren Vale. *James makes a gaff about how much Merlot is grown in McLaren Vale – it’s 3% of the total area in 2018. 2018-10-2319 min