Yarra Valley Winery - Kiltynane Estate

from Sky to Earth to Vine to Glass...

Yarra Valley Winery respecting Biodynamic Viticultural practices and working towards a sustainable future. Our philosophy is to work with Nature rather than against her. The results speak for themselves in the wine.

Seven clones of Pinot Noir are grown on the Yarra Glen winery Estate at Kiltynane. At 110m above sea level, the gently sloping blocks have some of the oldest soil on earth. These very old poor soils have ironstone reefs coursing through the upper slopes, and rich clay below 30—40 cm of top soil. To maintain soil health and enable the vines to obtain the nutrients they require to produce the quality of fruit we desire, biodynamic preparations and organic practices are followed. The organic biodynamic preparations are mostly made on site and applied according to the optimum times of the solar and lunar phases. Chemicals are only used as a last resort and thankfully this is seldom the case.

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The vines are close planted at 1m with 2m row spacing and VSP trellised unilaterally on one cordon only, to a length of approx. 80cm. Most clones are cane pruned with some spur pruned where required for balance. Each vine is fruit thinned to 6—12 bunches later in the season. All pruning and picking is done by hand. The clones currently used are 114, 115, MV6, D5V12, G5V15, G8V7 and D4V2. Using clones is like a choir with seven members of the one family in it - although from the same family, each member has a different voice which adds to the layers and textures of the song - instead of the monotony of one voice.

Kiltynane is in a rain shadow and often receives only around 500mm rain in a year. We therefore use what little water we have to prevent premature leaf loss and ensure full ripeness. Mulching is used to help prevent water loss. Mulch is created from the previous vintage winery waste and midrow side throw slashing. No pesticides have or are used, as the vibrant ecosystem has produced a healthy population of diverse beneficial insects. No nets are used, instead recruiting the nesting territorial birds who inhabit the trees bordering each block. Winery liquid waste and storm water is chanelled to a "'frog and reed pond" where it is naturally filtered and then flows back to the irrigation dam for reuse. No artificial fertilizers are used, instead drums of manure, seaweed and other natural preparations including the organic biodynamic preparations 500, 508 and manure concentrate are prepared on site for use as needed.

We recycle all domestic waste here on site, thus “closing the loop” on our own sustainability cycle. Plantings of local native species have been undertaken to provide abundant habitat for beneficial insects, bees and birds. It is found that a healthy population of indigenous species helps to keep unwanted introduced species out. Midrows are left to grow long and then side cut to mulch under the vines, minimising evaporation, reducing growth under the vines and keeping the vineyard floor cool.

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