That was the experience last vintage for Cameron Leith, winemaker and managing director at the Passing Clouds vineyard property at Musk, near Daylesford on the western side of the Macedon Ranges in Victoria.
The small family vineyard grows pinot noir and chardonnay grape varieties over 13 hectares and also works closely with shiraz and cabernet growers in the Bendigo and Kilmore areas.
Mr Leith said biodynamic and regenerative agriculture principles had been adopted in the vineyard for some time and last season the use of the new biostimulant, BM Start from UPL ticked several boxes aligned with this strategy.
“It’s important to be environmentally conscious and responsible with the use of our inputs and if we can also avoid transporting large amounts of fertiliser around, we are reducing that impact on the environment,’’ Mr Leith said.
“We have used various seaweed-based products, but they have not been as refined and enhanced in such a way as this latest biostimulant, which made it attractive.
“We are in a marginal climate area here, 740 metres above sea level, and can experience some inclement weather during fruit-set, so anything that can help optimise fruit-set is an advantage.
“We have also had issues with low phosphorus, boron and molybdenum – elements that are important for fruit-set, so we have looked at products that can help maximise yields whilst maintaining or enhancing quality.’’
UPL Australia BioSolutions manager, Neil Innes said BM Start features the biostimulant-based, patented technology, GoActiv, developed by UPL.
GoActiv is a pure concentrate of specific plant hormones that stimulate and improve natural plant processes. BM Start is used across more than 30 crops and over more than 10 million hectares in the European agriculture market.
“Comprising 1.7 per cent nitrogen, 2.1pc magnesium, 2.84pc sulphur, 2.07pc boron and 0.02pc molybdenum, it improves absorption of soil nutrients, activating plant physiology to help reduce the sensitivity of vines to climatic conditions and provide the adaptability needed to better optimise yields and quality,” Mr Innes said.
“Extensive trials compared with alternate stimulant products and alongside untreated areas have shown strong benefits, including enhanced micronutrient use efficiency; reduced stress during flowering and, hence, increased flower counts; and significantly improved grape cluster structure and berry uniformity – all leading to increased bunch weights, yields and quality.”
In the chardonnay and pinot noir blocks at Passing Clouds last season, BM Start was safely used from early flowering through to fruit-set, which included three applications at 2 litres/ha spaced two weeks apart, and with one application included in a tank mix with sulphur and copper.
Mr Leith said soil and plant tissue test results showed increases in nutrient uptake and at the end of the season and that bunch weights and yields were excellent.
One chardonnay block had recorded bunch weights of 54 grams, 69gm and 80gm, and yields of 3.2 t/ha (1.5 t/ acre), 4.9 t/ha (2 t/ac) and 5.9 t/ha (2.4 t/ac) the previous three years.
Following the use of BM Start, the same block achieved an average bunch weight of 90gm and a yield of 6.4 t/ha (2.6 t/ac) despite the difficult season. The average yield across the chardonnay blocks was 5.8 t/ha (2.35t/ac).
Mr Leith said other nutritional amendments also were used in addition to BM Start, and while yield production from the wider Macedon Ranges region was down significantly last season, Passing Clouds recorded a great result.
“We had good average bunch weights, significantly higher than we have had historically, and even berry sizes,’’ he said.
“We ended up with really good fruit and our highest yields ever despite the challenging season. And we were very happy with the quality of the wine.
“BM Start is an effective product that is also affordable, which is good. It is up there as one of the most impacting products we have used in the vineyard,’’ Mr Leith said.
