At Sandihurst we are trialling, in conjunction with Lincoln University and MetaNZ, the use of recycled crushed glass as a reflective undervine mulch. The trial is being conducted in our Pinot Noir vineyard and is now in its second year. The trial is comparing Green glass, White glass, Mussel Shells and a Control area of vines without any mulch. Mussel shells have been used to good effect in previous trials at Neudorf vineyard in Nelson. You can get a little more detail about that here.
The benefits of using a reflective undervine surface are many and may especially help vineyards or varietals that are in marginal areas. The glass/shells act to reflect light and heat back into the canopy of the vine. The raises the temperature around the fruiting zone and may have an effect on photosynthetic rates and vine phenology. More light evenly spread around the cluster may also help even ripening and promote a more mature level of phenolic (tannin) development in the berry without pushing the sugar levels too high. Berry colour is also improved. Below the vine surface the mulches may also help to raise soil temperature and have positive effects on vine root development and as an added bonus helps limits weed growth too.
Initial tasting of wines made from the trial blocks were sensational to say the least. Where the control block came over as quite thin and with higher levels of green tannin, the glass/shell vines had an obvious depth of mid palate weight to them as well as excellent tannin structure and darker colour. The difference was chalk and cheese, from vines only metres apart of each other.
The Sandihurst trial has great potential as it combines all the known benefits of undervine mulch with the use of recycled glass, in itself a major issue for recycling companies in New Zealand. Its very exciting. The glass has been colour separated and arrives to us in 1 tonne lots. Amazingly there are no sharp edges in the crushed glass.
Stay tuned for more results as the trial continues...
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