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The team at Greystone Wines began extensively cover cropping in 2020. Attempts to direct drill cover crops into existing pasture largely failed due to the presence of a thick browntop thatch that prevented seedling establishment. Cover crops sown following the cultivation of new vine blocks established much better.

Greystone Wines have a very low input direct plant nutrition programme that simply involves the addition of seaweed to all spray passes.

Greystone Wines now see the use of under vine cultivation as a transitional tool on their journey from a conventional system to regenerative organic. Cultivation was creating erosion risks and increased the prevalence of deep rooted woody weed such as mellow which were difficult to manage.

Greystone Wines have been winter grazing the neighbouring farmers sheep since the vineyard was established, typically from May-September.

Greystone Wines, as an organically certified vineyard, has limited tools available to manage pest and disease pressure.

This Quorum Sense case study looks at the regenerative innovation occurring on two very different vineyards – a large family owned and operated vineyard in Marlborough producing high quality savingnon blanc, and a smaller vertically integrated vineyard in the Waipara hills producing a diversity of organic wines.

The Holdaways have been extensively cover cropping since 2018, starting with every second row to ensure there was a row clear for tractors to drive down.

The Holdaways used to set stock 1000-1500 merino lambs across the 182ha vineyard for five months over autumn/winter.

This Quorum Sense case study looks at the regenerative innovation occurring on two very different vineyards – a large family owned and operated vineyard in Marlborough producing high quality savingnon blanc, and a smaller vertically integrated vineyard in the Waipara hills producing a diversity of organic wines.

The fertile soils of the Holdaway vineyards supply their high yielding vines with sufficient macronutrients (phosphorous, potassium, sulfur etc) without requiring any fertiliser addition. Enough atmospheric nitrogen is also fixed each year to meet the vines needs, so N fertiliser is not applied either.

The Holdaways are also successfully managing insect pests without insecticides, with flowering cover crops attracting beneficial predatory insects that keep pest species in check.

The Holdaways goals for under vine management across the majority of their vineyards are to minimise herbicide use and tractor passes while also minimising competition with the high producing vines.