Technology

LEGO® Grower loves being techy.  Loves using technology to know exactly what’s happening at any point in any day AND to use the data to help him grow amazing wine. 

LEGO® grower thinks water is precious and he hates wasting water.  It’s all about the right amount of water, in the right place, at the right time.  This week he’s updating his soil moisture loggers from a manual download to a blue-tooth phone based system.  The buried sensors send him hourly data on soil moisture levels and how irrigation and rain are affecting soil moisture.  He uses the data to fine tune his irrigation system, which is his way of manging vegetative growth: the vines need different amounts of water at different growth stages.  He also measures leaf-water potential to monitor plant water status.  He wants the plant to work to suck up water, but not work too hard and be stressed.  Add in unpredictable weather - a very fine daily balance indeed. 

Flowering and fruit set are over and LEGO® Grower’s been counting bunches to estimate yield.  While Chardonnay, Pinot and Albariño flowering was good, Sauvignon was average to poor.  He’s expecting a below average Sauvignon yield this year.  What else is going on? Last wire lift this week for the Chardonnay, juggling spraying around rain and wind, thinking about leaf plucking and mowing, mowing, mowing: the headlands look like a hay paddock!  Lots going on at the moment. 

Being techy helps him know exactly what’s happening and helps him grow amazing wine.