Not a memorable vintage in terms of yield for Providence, one of the best Tasmanian wineries. The season went pear-shaped during the first week of December 2014 (which, for many reasons, wasn’t a good year for me!) During that week two attempts to spray for powdery mildew resulted in the spray being washed off by rain before it had a chance to set. The third attempt was made during heavy winds, and I suspect that a vineyard some 200 Kms south was successfully covered.
We spent the next two months applying eradicants with little effect. The net result was that Providence lost all the Pinot Noir crop and nearly all the Chardonnay. Riesling, which was later in development avoided the debacle and returned a good crop in terms of both yield and quality.
On Saturday 11 April, ably assisted in the vineyard by staff, students and parents from the Launceston Grammar Music School (for, I think, the 14th time) we picked the remnants. Thanks goes to the Music School, captained by the head of Music, Sherryn Hepher, as well as our older hands, Victor and Les and inside with the catering, Kay and Elizabeth.
For the uninitiated “MOG” refers to “Material Other than Grapes”, which includes leaves and other parts of the vine and in some cases damaged fruit.
