DOCSLIB.ORG

Clos De La Tech Clos De La Tech’S Winery in Woodside, California Makes Premium Pinot Noir Wines Using State-Of-The-Art Waterbit Technology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Clos De La Tech Clos De La Tech’S Winery in Woodside, California Makes Premium Pinot Noir Wines Using State-Of-The-Art Waterbit Technology TECH NOTE 1 | FEB 2020 Clos de la Tech Clos de la Tech’s winery in Woodside, California makes premium Pinot Noir wines using state-of-the-art WaterBit technology TJ’s “Living Lab” So, TJ turned to soil moisture sensors as a way to accurately Silicon Valley entrepreneur, TJ Rodgers, is WaterBit’s Chairman. measure soil volumetric water content (VWC) in the vine rootzone He has created a Living Lab at his Clos de la Tech winery to further his goal of developing and deploying automated watering. in Woodside, California, where he tests the latest irrigation In 2016, the VWC sensors available on the market did accurately technologies by measuring their impact on yield, water usage measure soil VWC, but were too expensive to deploy en masse in and wine quality. At WaterBit, we pore over the experimental many small vineyard blocks, so TJ launched a project to create a details to help shape our Autonomous Irrigation Solution low-cost, VWC sensor—this was the spark that launched WaterBit. (AIS) product roadmap. We invite you to visit our San Jose headquarters to see the pro duc tion version of our AIS in action. TJ also worked with the WaterBit team to develop a highly reliable, compact, solar-powered electronic system (no batteries!) that Background paired with a VWC probe. The purpose of this system was to TJ Rodgers founded Cypress Semiconductor in 1982 and led measure soil VWC at various depths and send this data to the the organization for 34 years. Cypress Semiconductor pushed cloud, where it could be analyzed and used to control irrigation. the envelope in developing and bringing to market cutting edge This device has evolved into what is now the WaterBit CarbonTM, silicon chip solutions like the Programmable System on a Chip a cost-effective irrigation controller with thousands of units in (PSoC), and even whole new companies like solar industry leader the field. TJ has used a VWC-based watering solution in his own SunPower, which was a Cypress project until it was spun out as winegrape production for three years. This solution waters his a separate company. TJ also owns three vineyards and has been vineyard automatically, block by block, by turning on the block making wine for over 20 years under the Clos de la Tech brand. watering valves when the VWC of the soil in a block falls to a pre His passion for applying technology to winemaking led to his defined “trigger level.” As illustrated in the next graph, the solution investment in WaterBit, whose automated irrigation solution is works like a thermostat, which heats whenever a room cools off. deployed in TJ’s vineyards. TJ has been experimenting with automated irrigation technologies to increase crop quality while simultaneously reducing water use. TJ’s experiments have helped WaterBit improve its products and are shaping our AIS product roadmap. Let’s take a look at the results of some of his experiments. The Quest to Cost-Effectively Measure Water at a Micro-Level (2016) TJ is a member of the Board of Advisors of the UC Davis School of Viticulture and Enology. He worked with Department Head, Dr. David Block, in a quest to invent a reliable, cost-effective method to directly measure the water needs of vineyards down to the single vine and deliver the right amount of water at the right time to each vine. He initially focused on getting baseline data by measuring Leaf Water Potential (LWP), a direct vine measurement of water need, on vines in small, quarter-acre Figure 1. Autonomous Irrigation Solution (AIS) Watering. The black curve shows percent soil moisture (VWC) at a depth of 2”. In this case, a watering is triggered vineyard blocks. LWP measurement is very labor intensive and, whenever VWC drops to the programmed 39% trigger level. Note these short unfortunately, after 10 years of searching, he has been unable waterings barely penetrate to the 10” VWC (red) and do not reach the 14”-22” to find a good, continuous, low cost automatic LWP sensor. The VWC probes. This shows that water loss from percolation through the root zone problem is that the sensor needs to be inserted into the xylem has been eliminated. (water-carrying tissue of the vine), causing a wound that changes measurements over time. Early Results (2017) Validating 2017 Results Beginning in 2017, TJ conducted a variety of production experi- TJ usually uses any new equipment in his home vineyard ments at Clos de la Tech using VWC probes to measure soil for a full year before he orders more equipment to replicate VWC and its impact on vine water usage and yield. As stated by favorable results for a second year. Only then, does he install Rodgers: “The purpose of the experiments is to compare the use the new equipment in his two larger production vineyards in of an Autonomous Irrigation Solution for AIS watering (defined as the Santa Cruz Mountains. The 2018 AIS watering results again using VWC soil moisture measurements to automatically control demonstrated exceptional water savings vs. the control blocks. the block water valves) to our standard practice of LWP watering, which uses Leaf Water Potential (LWP) measurements and Rodgers stated: “While water usage dramatically decreased in manually controlled block water valves.” both 2017 and 2018 by using the AIS to achieve record-low water use, you might ask, did it impact quality? Both the grape quality (measured at harvest) and wine quality (blind tasting one year later) were equivalent, and all of the experimental barrels qualified “ WaterBit doesn’t overwater, it doesn’t underwater. for incorporation in our reserve wine ($130 per bottle).” It gives what the plants tell it to give.” TJ Rodgers, He also reported that in addition to the excellent production Owner of Clos de la Tech & WaterBit Chairman of the Board results, AIS caused him to make a major discovery on a newly planted block. The results shown in Table 1 were quite remarkable. In the AIS “The automated solution also detected a severe watering experimental blocks, TJ obtained comparable crop yield and problem in a new buried emitter drip system that was supposed quality, while cutting vineyard water usage by 38%-52%. This to be more water efficient by eliminating surface evaporation. Up was compared to the control blocks, in which manual irrigations to 90% of the applied water in certain micro-blocks percolated were made in response to leaf water potential measurements. through the root zone and was wasted. The drip emitters were buried eight inches deep in a block with a very shallow rootzone, TJ also reported excellent quality: “The total season irrigation leaving only 12 inches of rootzone below the buried emitters. The (TSI) for 2017 in the AIS-watered blocks was only 0.20 inches emitter watering plume penetrated the rootzone in 30 minutes to 0.46 inches, record low numbers for the vineyard, which was and any water added after that was lost. The quick and simple planted in 1994. The AIS blocks were fermented and barrel aged solution to the problem was to change the irrigation time from two separately. Both crop yield and blind tasting results showed hours to thirty minutes something that cannot be done practically quality comparable to the control blocks, despite the water with humans turning manual valves on and off.” savings. I hypothesized that the extra water used in the control irrigations probably percolated through the rootzones, doing no Moving Forward good at all.” (That hypothesis was verified in 2018.) With these promising early results, TJ continues to search for reliable and practical irrigation methods to use at Clos de la Tech. 2017 Experiment Name House (H) House (H) Winery (W) Winery (W) Bottom (B) Bottom (B) Cont 1 Exp 2 Cont 2 Exp 2 Cont 3 Exp 3 This year, he is installing WaterBit’s new MicroBlock Valve™, and Experiment Variables LWP AIS LWP AIS LWP AIS H2O/watering (pgv/w) 2.0 0.5 2.0 0.5 2.0 1.0 he plans to implement WaterBit’s enhanced monitoring controls Yield (tons per acre) 3.10 2.82 3.93 3.78 2.29 2.33 vs Control 91.0% 96.2% 101.7% to measure irrigation flow and pressure to automatically validate WUE1: Gal Water/# Grapes 1.82 0.95 2.64 1.65 4.02 2.42 TSI (inches)2 0.42 0.20 0.77 0.46 0.68 0.42 that the appropriate watering recipe was applied to each block on vs Control (% savings) 52% 40% 38% every watering. We look forward to reporting on those results in a 1. Water Use Efficiency. 2. Total Seasonal Irrigation: 10,000 gallons per acre per year (gpa/yr) = 0.368”/yr = 9.35 mm/yr. later Tech Note. Table 1. 2017 Woodside Vineyard water use and crop yield. About WaterBit TJ summarized the 2017 results: “The AIS demonstrated WaterBit’s precision irrigation solution lets growers measure exceptional water use efficiency (WUE) as low as 0.95 gallons of soil moisture and execute irrigation remotely, and at a level of irrigation water per pound of crop (gal/#), using 5,346 gallons granularity and accuracy that would otherwise not be possible. per acre per year (gpa/yr), or 0.20” of irrigation water, to produce WaterBit translates technology into tangible value for growers a crop of 2.8 tons per acre (tpa). The lowest efficiency of three by improving yields and crop consistency, and optimizing water AIS experimental blocks still had excellent performance, using and labor. Learn more at www.waterbit.com.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Château De Pommard Restores Clos Mareymonge
    CHÂTEAU DE POMMARD RESTORES CLOS MAREY­MONGE NAME, BEGINS BIODYNAMIC CONVERSION WITH ANTOINE LEPETIT DE LA BIGNE Château de Pommard Press Release st Pommard, France, May 31 ,​ 2016 ​ Château de Pommard Restores Clos Marey­Monge Designation In the 1855 publication entitled History and Statistics of the Great Wines of the Côte d’Or, ​ ​ Jules Lavalle presented the official classification of the Comité de Viticulture de Beaune. ​ ​ With a consideration for traditional regional hierarchies, Lavalle ranked Clos Marey­Monge—renamed Clos du Château de Pommard in 1936—amongst the region’s ​ ​ ​ ​ premières cuvées, a qualification now designated for today’s premier cru. ​ ​ ​ With the deepest respect for the region’s values, history, and Lavalle’s 1855 classification, in May 2016 Château de Pommard proudly announces the restoration of its historic walled­enclosed vineyard to its original title – Clos Marey­Monge. ​ ​ “The team at Château de Pommard is delighted to have the opportunity to reappoint the Clos Marey­Monge name. We take great care to constantly consider the historical legacy of our vineyards and the region’s historic roots. Restoring Clos Marey­Monge to its earliest designation is a step to blend local traditions with forward thinking,” said Michael Baum, owner. Château de Pommard’s Conversion to Biodynamic Wine Production Developing over a series of tiered phases, and beginning early in this year’s season, Château de Pommard is delighted to announce its conversion to biodynamic wine production. Since 2007, Château de Pommard’s technical director, Emmanuel Sala, has produced all of the château’s wines. His simple philosophy, “to nurture and develop the specific vintage, ​ to listen to nature and never upset its balance,” is a belief built on many years of local ​ knowledge and intuitively understanding the region’s landscape.
    [Show full text]
  • LE CLOS Single Vineyard
    RED CROZES-HERMITAGE LE CLOS Single Vineyard APPELLATION RED CROZES-HERMITAGE VINEYARDS : the vineyards are the largest of the northern Rhône appellations. They cover 11 communes in the Drôme "département", on the left bank of the Rhône River. SOILS : the soils vary: from the north, these are mainly over granite subsoils that follow on from those of the Hermitage hill; to the south where are both fluvial-glacial alluviums, with terraces of rolled stones from the old river bed, mixed with loess. CLIMATE : the climate has a southerly exposure in the hillside areas. PREVAILING WIND : the "Mistral" is the dominant wind. SURFACE AREA UNDER PRODUCTION : Production area is 1,683 hectares/3,485 acres, for an annual production of 61,000 hectolitres/678,000 cases. Authorized maximum yield is 45 hectolitres/hectare (2.6 US tons/acre). GRAPE VARIETIES : Syrah (an addition of up to 15% of Marsanne or Roussanne is allowed). CHARACTERISTICS This cuvée is a vineyard plot selection. The grapes come exclusively from a "Clos", that is located on the "Les Chassis" plain, on the left bank of the Rhône river. This is a wine which is only made in the very best years, and its production is deliberately limited to 7,000 bottles (75 cl.) per year. Grape variety : 100% Syrah WINE MAKING "Le Clos" grapes are harvested manually at optimum maturity. The winemaking is done in traditional open-topped concrete tanks, following a 2 day period of skin contact at low temperature. The fermentation follows at controlled temperatures from 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C).
    [Show full text]
  • Clos Apalta 2012
    Clos Apalta 2012 GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS Apalta is located at 170 Kilometers South West from Santiago in the Colchagua Valley. The Vineyard is situated on a North to South exposure, which is quite rare in Chile. The Tinguiririca river rests on one side and the hills from the A world class Blend in the Coastal Cordillera surround the vineyard like a horseshoe on the other. They are both integral in forming this unique terroir. This geography is responsible for the Bordeaux tradition. The conditions that ensure balance for our vines and a slow ripening for the grapes. At sunrise and sunset, the Cordillera block the sun’s rays, limiting the vines exposure earth offers it up and we to intense sunshine and the river has a cooling influence on the climate. respect the gift. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF APALTA VALLEY Apalta has a special meso-climate that is different from the rest of Colchagua Valley. Its climate could be described as semi-dry Mediterranean; with a winter only rainy season and a long dry summer season. Rains are highly concentrated during the winter reaching over 550 mm in on average. During the growing season (oct- april), we have beautiful days and warm temperatures with no rain due to the height of the Coastal Mountains which partially block the cold influence of the Pacific Ocean. There are cool breezes in the afternoons and the night-time temperatures are cold. We benefit from a wide temperature fluctuation between night and day; which is a key quality factor for color and tannins in reds. Slow maturation allows the grapes to reach their ideal maturity with high concentration and character, preserving the fruit and high levels of natural acidity, ensuring a long ageing potential.
    [Show full text]
  • France Few Regions Can Claim the Fame and Admiration That Burgundy BURGUNDY Has Enjoyed Since the Second Century
    France Few regions can claim the fame and admiration that Burgundy BURGUNDY has enjoyed since the second century. Comprised of the Chablis, Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais regions, Burgundy occupies a long and narrow stretch of vineyards in eastern France. The critical effect of terroir in Burgundy is expressed in its complex classification system. • Vineyards are divided into separate appellations along terroir France boundaries; the full range of classification levels from broadest to the most distinguished follows: District (e.g. Beaujolais or Chablis), Village (e.g. Pommard), Premier Cru (e.g. Pommard les Rugiens) and Grands Cru (e.g. Clos Vougeot). • As a result of Burgundy’s rules of inheritance, vineyard ownership is quite fragmented, with multiple owners for most crus. The Clos de Vougeot vineyard, for example, is split between 80 different owners. • Though soils vary, clay and limestone predominate in the Côte d’Or and granite is common in Beaujolais. BURGUNDY DIJON CÔTE D’OR GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN CÔTE DE NUITS NUITS-ST-GEORGES CÔTE DE BEAUNE Maison Louis Jadot BEAUNE POMMARD MEURSAULT PULIGNY- MONTRACHET CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET Taittinger CHAMPAGNE CÔTE CHALONNAISE Marne Marne STRASBOURG PARIS SeineSSeineeine Bouvet-Ladubay Loire NANTES CHABLIS DIJON ATLANTICLANTICC LOIRE Michel Redde Maison Louis Jadot OOCCEANEAN Domaine Ferret BURGUNDY Château des Jacques MÂCONNAIS BEAUJOLAIS LYON MÂCON Loire Rhône Domaine Ferret Loire POUILLY FUISSÉ Rhone Allier ST. AMOUR JULIÉNAS CHÉNAS Château des Jacques FLEURIE MOULIN-À-VENT RHÔNE CHIROUBLES THE CRUS OF MORGON NICE RÉGNIÉ BROUILLY BEAUJOLAIS CÔTE DE Châteaux des Jacques Château d’Aquéria BROUILLY Château Mont-Redon MARSEILLE BEAUJOLAIS MMEEDITERRANEANEDDITITERRANEAN SEA MAISON LOUIS JADOT Beaune, Burgundy, France Property: Founded in 1859, this renowned wine house has grown to control approximately 600 acres of vineyards that include roughly 240 acres of the most prestigious Premiers and Grands Crus of the Côte d’Or.
    [Show full text]
  • Return to Terroir
    RETURN TO TERROIR “Biodynamy, wine growing for the future” TASTING Is biodynamic Wine-growing a Myth or a Realit y? By Nicolas Joly – Coulée de Serrant There is no doubt that more and more fascinated private individuals and professionals are discovering a source of complexity, a surge of vitality, and an additional purity in the increasing number of biodynamic wines. There is also no doubt that this type of agriculture, which differs from biological agriculture insofar as it adds very small amounts of preparations per hectares, quantities varying from one to one hundred grams, that have usually been dynamised in water, can upset those who try to understand it. How can such small quantities have any real effect on the quality of wine? Wouldn’t the result be the same with simple biological agriculture? Faced with these questions, the group of those in favour and those against puff themselves up by publicly making boasts on a regular basis, as behind the scenes both sides prepare for battle. In order to pass from the profound convictions which generate belief to knowledge and thus a more rigorous demonstration, there is finally a step to be taken here. It is on this approach that partially depends the authenticity of the quality of our future wines. Let us begin by observing the corpse of an animal that has just died. In a few weeks its simple elements will again be part of the earth. Thus the question to ask is: where are the energies which constructed this organism in such a sophisticated manner? Who took the calcium to sculpt the bone? Who took the silica to form the hair? Don’t these forces exist in other ways besides forming embryos? A seed, an egg.
    [Show full text]
  • The World of Wine Consistency and Dependability
    The World of Wine Consistency and Dependability An Interview with Erik Olsen, Winemaker, Clos du Bois EDITORS’ NOTE Erik Olsen’s techni- vineyards in the very best appellations viticulture and grower relations teams in the busi- cal training in winemaking began at of Sonoma County for these wines. ness. We are perpetually working with our growers U.C. Davis, where he graduated with Carefully matching grape to place to to assure that all the things that need to be done in a B.S. in Enology and Viticulture. showcase each of Sonoma’s unique the vineyard are done well to give us the fl avors He went on to earn an M.S. in Food growing regions, the sourcing for each that we look forward to each year. Science from Cornell University and of the varietals in the Sonoma Reserve The other component is doing things in a an M.B.A. from the University of tier is strategically chosen to express controlled way. I’m a fanatic about effi ciency Washington, combining a rare back- the unique characteristics of that spe- and having people very clear on what their roles ground of both technical and business cifi c terroir – cabernet and merlot from are in the winery. We’re very particular about training with the intuition and cre- the Alexander Valley, pinot noir from how the grapes are pressed, how we do our ativity of a born winemaker. For more Sonoma Coast, and chardonnay from fermentation, everything on up to blending. than two decades, Erik has crafted Russian River Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • Growing, Techniques, Equipment and More! the BEST OF
    GOT WINEMAKING GROW YOUR OWN GRAPES IN A BACKYARD VINEYARD! QUESTIONS? THE BEST OF ® GUIDE TO ROWING GRAPES LEARN HOW TO • PLAN & PLANT YOUR VINEYARD • CARE THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS • TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS • GROW THE BEST WINE GRAPES ...AND MUCH MORE! by WES HAGEN WWW.WINEMAKERMAG.COM SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ONLY ISSUE U.S. $6.99 • CAN. $6.99 DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! ORDER YOUR WINEMAKER BACK ISSUES ORDER WINEMAKER BACK ISSUES AND CONFERENCE RECORDINGS TODAY AT: WINEMAKERMAGSTORE.COM LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS! Recorded seminars from the annual WineMaker Magazine Conference are packed with valuable winemaking know-how. One hour audio CDs cover topics including kit winemaking, grape growing, techniques, equipment and more! THE BEST OF ® lanting a backyard vineyard is as much an act of madness as it is an act of faith. In an era of unmatched wine availability and affordability, it would be difficult to claim that growing grapes to make your own wine is in any way economical. The best metaphor I can come up with: planting a vineyard at home is like making your own Pflat screen television. You’re not going to be able to do it cheaper and more efficiently than the Chinese . in fact it will probably be more expensive and have more technical issues, but in the end you will certainly know more about the intricacies of television manufacturing. A backyard vineyard is not landscaping. A backyard vineyard should never be a “crazy idea I had one night while under the influence of Napa Cabernet.” There is only one reason to plant a backyard vineyard — you have no other choice.
    [Show full text]
  • Pairing Basics
    Pairing Basics SPICY FOOD: • Bold, peppery, hot • Wide variety of styles, preparations, accompaniments • Requires a palate-cleansing wine to refresh the palate GENERAL Pairing Tips: • Acidity in a wine cuts through richness and helps it stand up to bold flavors in food • Tannins and alcohol in a wine enhance the perception of spice in food • Sweetness and fruitiness in a wine can contrast with and tone down spice in food • Pair “like” components: intensity, complexity, texture, fruit or earth o Example: delicate, fresh, clean flavors deserve a delicate, fresh, clean wine o Example: bold, rich, complex dishes deserve a bold, rich, complex wine • What grows together goes together • Consider the occasion 1) Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Kabinett Riesling ’10 – Rheingau, Germany • Riesling has naturally high acidity and can be made in a variety of styles from bone dry to off-dry to very sweet; the acidity balances the sweetness • “Kabinett” is a designation used in Germany; it indicates the grapes were picked at lower levels of ripeness, which translates to lighter, lower alcohol wines; usually off-dry • Light body won’t overwhelm light dishes, or it can contrast with richer dishes • Bright acidity and some sweetness refreshes the palate after eating spicy food 2) Clos Roche Blanche Sauvignon Blanc No. 2 ’11 – Touraine, France • Sancerre is the famous appellation for Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire Valley in France; this is from a larger area just east of there • Tangy fruits, herbal and bell pepper notes complement dishes with peppers and/or fresh herbs; pungency stands up to bold flavors; light body and high acidity refreshes the palate • Clos Roche Blanche is known for being very non-interventionist in approach All class outlines are copyright of Corkbuzz Wine Studio.
    [Show full text]
  • Clos La Coutale
    CLOS LA COUTALE Country: France Region: Southwest Appellation(s): Cahors Producer: Philippe Bernède Founded: 1895 Annual Production: 25,000 cases Farming: Traditional Website: www.closlacoutale.com Deep in the southwest of France, amidst dramatic rock formations and cliffs, the Lot River slowly snakes its way along the valley floor, coiling covetously around the charming town of Cahors. The diversity in architecture serves as a proud historical mark left by many previous generations of inhabitants. Once a former Roman town, Cahors was also as a center of commerce during the Middle Ages that served as an important crossroads for pilgrims on the trail to Santiago de Compostella. Among the many specialties that have brought pride to the region, the constant has been its wine. A.O.C. Cahors is known as the “black wine” of the Southwest—the deeply inky, earthy wines that seem to complement the regional fare of duck (and duck fat!) so wonderfully. Cahors is also the birthplace of Cot, the grape more commonly known as Malbec. The Bernède family is an intricate part of this tradition, watching over one of the region’s oldest domaines that was founded before the French Revolution. Today, Cahors’ jack-of-all-trades and Renaissance man, Philippe Bernède, continues the family tradition with both heart and ingenuity. Philippe’s vines rest upon the gentle slopes that rise up from the Lot River. He farms sixty hectares of land along the alluvial terraces of the Lot Valley that are rich in siliceous, clay, and limestone soils. The microclimate of the vineyards is ideal, with southwest sun exposure and topographic protection against the frost.
    [Show full text]
  • Clos Henri History Viticulture Vinification
    Clos Henri Region - Marlborough, New Zealand Appellation - Marlborough Winemaker - Damien Yvon Farming - Organic; Biodynamic Website - www.clos-henri.com History Nestled in the southern foothills of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley in New Zealand, Clos Henri is an organic wine estate established and meticulously run by the internationally-renowned Sancerre winemaking family of Henri Bourgeois. Eager to discover unique terroir and new winemaking perspectives, the Bourgeois family embarked on a 12-year worldwide search for land similar to their property in Sancerre, known for its premium Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. In 2000, the family discovered these new horizons and purchased 98 ha of pasture land in New Zealand’s most famous wine region. “This is a family firm that seems to me to be doing precisely what far more of France’s tens of thousands of wine producers should be doing: forging important links in the outside world, broadening their horizons while exchanging ideas, all the time making better and better wines back home.” - Jancis Robinson Viticulture The region’s exceptional microclimate acts in synergy with the fascinating geology, making Marlborough an ideal place for growing Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Specifically, its long, dry growing season, intense sunlight and the contrast between warm days and cool nights, results in wines with a unique intensity and finesse for long aging potential. The Bourgeois family believes that working organically with grapes grown on their own estate and using dry-farming practices enables them to achieve true terroir expression in its purest form. The Wairau fault line runs diagonally through the estate, dramatically shaping the complex soil composition into three unique soil types – Wither clay, Broadbridge clay and Greywacke river stone – each personality reflected in the wines.
    [Show full text]
  • C L a R E Valley
    CLARE VALLEY EDUCATOR GUIDE John Montesi Credit: AUSTRALIAN WINE DISCOVERED PREPARING FOR YOUR CLASS THE MATERIALS VIDEOS As an educator, you have access to a suite of teaching resources and handouts, You will find complementary video including this educator guide: files for each program in the Wine Australia Assets Gallery. EDUCATOR GUIDE We recommend downloading these This guide gives you detailed topic videos to your computer before your information, as well as tips on how to best event. Look for the video icon for facilitate your class and tasting. It’s a guide recommended viewing times. only – you can tailor what you teach to Loop videos suit your audience and time allocation. These videos are designed to be To give you more flexibility, the following played in the background as you optional sections are flagged throughout welcome people into your class, this document: during a break, or during an event. There is no speaking, just background ADVANCED music. Music can be played aloud, NOTES or turned to mute. Loop videos should Optional teaching sections covering be played in ‘loop’ or ‘repeat’ mode, more complex material. which means they play continuously until you press stop. This is typically an easily-adjustable setting in your chosen media player. COMPLEMENTARY READING Feature videos These videos provide topical insights Optional stories that add from Australian winemakers, experts background and colour to the topic. and other. Feature videos should be played while your class is seated, with the sound turned on and SUGGESTED clearly audible. DISCUSSION POINTS To encourage interaction, we’ve included some optional discussion points you may like to raise with your class.
    [Show full text]
  • The History the Vineyards the Viticulture the Winemaking
    http://www.gouges.com/?lang=en domaine_henri_gouges domainehenrigouges THE HISTORY THE VITICULTURE The creation of Domaine Henri Gouges was the culmination of Sélection massale is used to replace vines that are pruned single- 400 years of family grape farmers, and it is, in many minds, the Guyot with 8-10 buds left of each branch in winter, reduced to top domaine in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Henri formed the domaine in five the following spring. Grégory Gouges prefers limiting the crop 1920 but was soon discouraged with selling the fruit to négociants. by de-budding and clipping off side-shoots, but will conduct a He envisioned a better quality wine, and by 1933 he was producing, green harvest in July or August if necessary. By 2008, the entirety bottling, and selling directly. He, along with the Marquis of the vineyards had been converted to organic viticulture, but the d’Angerville from Volnay, was at the forefront of battles against domaine emphasizes that the goal is not for certification but simply fraud in Burgundy in the 1920s. In the 1930s, Monsieur Gouges using viticultural techniques to respect the terroir and the wine. was one of the people charged with the job of delineating the crus in Burgundy for the Institut National d’Appellation d’Origine, and he THE WINEMAKING was a member of that regulatory body at its outset. A new pump-free and gravity-fed cuverie was constructed in 2007. At picking, bunches are sorted on two sorting tables. The Since the beginning, the domaine has remained an undivided family fruit is then completely de-stemmed and after a light crushing is property.
    [Show full text]