Yarra Valley
Accommodation > Organic and Biodynamic
Wines
Yarra Glen Winery respecting Biodynamic Winemaking 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.
from Sky to Earth to Vine to Glass...
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.
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 only.
Kiltynane is in a rain shadow and often receives only 600—700mm
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. Much 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 predatory 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
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