Our stories
We love to notice and mark the changing of seasons, the sighting of a new birds' nest, or our unceasing wonder at the seamless enrichment that biodynamic viticulture provides our pristine environment. Working in rhythm with nature ensures we are vigilant in the vineyard, and follow that attention to detail through to the winery and the table. As fifth and sixth generation winegrowers, we value family, tradition and progression, and we hope our stories strike a chord with you – hopefully so much that we're lucky enough to one day hear yours.
Saluti!
Steve and Monique Lubiana.
James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia
Earlier in December we were included amongst the top 100 wines of Australia. We are so proud of the wines that were included in the top 100 where we had four wines listed, a wonderful way to finish 2023 and reward for effort for the entire Stefano Lubiana team. The tasting notes for each wine can be read below:-
#13 Single Block La Roccia 2021 - 97 Points limited availability
'Often the cuvée I prefer of the pack due to the sterner carapace of tannin, compressing and corralling what, in so much of the New World, can be excessively sweet fruit. Not here! Rhubarb, cinnamon stick, tamarind and bluer fruits over red. The tannins are sublime, Firm, sure, but refined, sinuous, a little stern and long-limbed, stretching across the palate and guiding flavor into every crevice. From biodynamically grown grapes. Excellent, mid-weighted pinot with ample aging potential. Best after 2026. Superb!'
#40. Collina 2022 - 96 Points available in mid-2024
'Collina is a hillside selection from culled barrels to the tune of 1000 liters in all. Inaugural vintage under cork. For the better. Tight. Hazelnut, acacia, lees-derived sourdough and reductive flint and mineral grit. This drives extremely long, belying its mid-weighted composure. Wow! A strident, athletic expression. Extremely complex. It funnels its way long across the palate. Great chardonnay, this. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026 or 2027.'
#47 Sasso 2021 - 96 Points limited availability
'A confluence of the best performing, lower yielding rows across the three single sites. Thus, usually the first picked as ripening is expedited. Often Roccia-dominant, as in this instance. Blood plum, ferrous notes of ironstone, darker and meatier than the other cuvees, blowing white pepper and Asian five spice long across a forceful, filigreed finish. This is a graceful, richly flavored pinot, as much as it is a sublimely elegant one. The tannins, extremely impressive. I'd bury this. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2026.'
#90 Single Block Ruscello 2021 - 95 Points limited availability
'A refined nose, mute but shimmering with intent as it is clearly marked by depth and precision, with just the faintest allusions of fruit. This is a mid-weighted wine of structural torque, hinting pomegranate, persimmon, kirsch, forestry scents and rose hip after a workout in the glass. Perhaps the most enticing of the single site cuvees in its youth. A wonderful, incisive drive through the mouth, directed by beautifully managed tannins, taut but svelte at the same time. The tannins, the signature of the estate. A long life ahead. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.'
For the mid-2024 release of the 2022 Collina Chardonnay sign up to our mailing list to ensure you do not miss out on this wine. We are also excited and looking forward to releasing the 2022 Single Blocks and 2022 Sasso in mid-2024.
22/12/2023 at 10:30 AM
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Deep Valley Malbec 2021
Deep Valley Malbec 2021
Malbec is originally a Bordeaux variety that is often used as part of the Bordeaux blend, is now grown all over the world. Although Malbec is used less in Bordeaux today, it is the primary variety in Cahors, France where it is locally known as Côt and produces dark and bold wines. Malbec, originally from France, is most well known now for being the key red variety in Argentina, where it grows in Mendoza at the foothills of the Andes. In the past Steve has grown a number of varieties to test their suitability to our Granton Estate. We are lucky enough to have a few rows of Malbec planted here in Tasmania.
Our Deep Valley Malbec 2021 is a single vineyard wine. Although our vineyard is in a cooler climate than Cahors and Mendoza our northerly aspect and proximity to the Derwent River allows us to consistently ripen grapes in Australia's coolest climate!
The Deep Valley Malbec 2021 is unfiltered and spends time in French oak barrels to ensure well integrated oak and softer tannins. A softer wine than its French and Argentinian counterparts however it boasts an aromatic nose with weight and power on the palate. There are notes of red plum, blackcurrant and black cherry. Black pepper, dried herbs and liquorice also feature. The palate is savoury with a harmonious blend of spices that include cinnamon and clove. A great match with chargrilled lamb ribs! The wine is drinking well now however, it will benefit from further cellaring. Cellaring potential 8+ years.
We are fortunate to produce and release this unique wine however, these releases are always limited in quantity due to small production. To secure the new Deep Valley Malbec 2021 please follow the link below.
16/10/2023 at 10:00 AM
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Ned Goodwin Review
Recently, Ned Goodwin, a Master of Wine (one of 414 in the world!) visited the island state to write an article for James Suckling. The trip would take him all over Tasmania visiting vineyards and Cellar Doors. During his trip he stopped by Stefano Lubiana Wines and met winemaker, Marco Lubiana who showed him through our vineyard and wines. In Ned's own words -
'The first lightning strike during my trip was leveled by Stefano Lubiana and his imperious raft of biodynamic, single-site pinots, during my visit to his winery in Granton, in Derwent Valley.'
'The entire Lubiana range is stunning, with minimally invasive handling, a little more tension to the whites and a pulpier, easier-going nature when it comes to the reds. While I encourage you to stack your cellars with all of these Lubiana beauties while waiting patiently for eight to 10 years for them to soften, my favorite for now, as it so often is, is the Stefano Lubiana Pinot Noir Tasmania La Roccia 2021. The carapace of tannin is beautifully refined, serving as a bulwark of restraint, staving off any excessive fruitiness from seeping across its barriers.'
During Ned's trip he reviewed a range of our wines with our La Roccia 2021 being scored the highest out of all wines tasted! Marco treated Ned to a sneak preview of the 2022 Collina which is slated for a mid-2024 release, when the wine will be in an even better place for release.
Single Block La Roccia 2021 - 97 Points, limited
'Often the cuvée I prefer of the pack due to the sterner carapace of tannin, compressing and corralling what, in so much of the New World, can be excessively sweet fruit. Not here! Rhubarb, cinnamon stick, tamarind and bluer fruits over red. The tannins are sublime, Firm, sure, but refined, sinuous, a little stern and long-limbed, stretching across the palate and guiding flavor into every crevice. From biodynamically grown grapes. Excellent, mid-weighted pinot with ample aging potential. Best after 2026. Superb!'
Collina 2022 - 96 Points, mid-2024 release
'Collina is a hillside selection from culled barrels to the tune of 1000 liters in all. Inaugural vintage under cork. For the better. Tight. Hazelnut, acacia, lees-derived sourdough and reductive flint and mineral grit. This drives extremely long, belying its mid-weighted composure. Wow! A strident, athletic expression. Extremely complex. It funnels its way long across the palate. Great chardonnay, this. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026 or 2027.'
You can read the rest of the article from Ned via this link here. The rest of our wines that Ned reviewed are also available below.
Single Block Il Giardino 2021 - 96 Points, limited
'This is the most fragrant and graceful of the single site pinots at this fine address. Perhaps, the most precocious. A sumptuous nose of raspberry bon bon, lilac, pomegranate, and griotte. A smattering of garden herb strewn across a kit of sinewy tannins, growing in stature with time in the glass. Fresh, dense and multitudinous. From biodynamically grown grapes. There is an uncanny immediacy about this mid-weighted wine suggesting that it is drinkable now, but really it will be best from 2025.'
Sasso 2021 - 96 Points, limited
'A confluence of the best performing, lower yielding rows across the three single sites. Thus, usually the first picked as ripening is expedited. Often Roccia-dominant, as in this instance. Blood plum, ferrous notes of ironstone, darker and meatier than the other cuvees, blowing white pepper and Asian five spice long across a forceful, filigreed finish. This is a graceful, richly flavored pinot, as much as it is a sublimely elegant one. The tannins, extremely impressive. I'd bury this. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2026.'
Single Block Ruscello 2021 - 95 Points, limited
'A refined nose, mute but shimmering with intent as it is clearly marked by depth and precision, with just the faintest allusions of fruit. This is a mid-weighted wine of structural torque, hinting pomegranate, persimmon, kirsch, forestry scents and rose hip after a workout in the glass. Perhaps the most enticing of the single site cuvees in its youth. A wonderful, incisive drive through the mouth, directed by beautifully managed tannins, taut but svelte at the same time. The tannins, the signature of the estate. A long life ahead. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.'
Grande Vintage 2011 - 95 Points
'A very cold year in these parts, as with most of the country. Great for fizz, as a result, befitting a cuvee that is only released when exceptional. Low dosage (3.8g/L) accentuates the chalky detail. A whooping 11 years on lees and one under cork, delivers toasty breadth and considerable power. Excellent nose of acacia, orange amaro and almond croissant, with a tensile bite across the emphatic finish. An Aussie fizz that really delivers. Drink or hold.'
Estate Chardonnay 2022 - 94 Points
'Sourced from meager, gravely soils. Hazelnut, white peach, a fleck of marzipan and pungent mineral undertones, with nothing overt. A very chiselled and taut opening act, belying extreme fruit intensity. This is an exceptional medium-bodied estate chardonnay of flavor, spunk and more sophistication than anticipated. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.'
Estate Pinot Noir 2022 - 93 Points
'A good portion of whole bunches given the benign vintage, particularly for red wines. Mid-weighted, sappy and juicy, with the bunchy tannins evincing just the right amount of grip without any notes of pickle, or mezcal. Think cherry amaro framed by gently verdant tannins and a gritty, salty finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.'
Pinot Gris 2022 - 92 Points
'A gorgeous orange to copper hue, attesting to gentle skin contact period and no color fining. Full barrel ferment confers further depth and ample texture. Rose hip, orange verbena, lilac and crushed musk stick, with orchard fruits lingering beyond. This is a wonderful gris, mid-weighted, detailed and apposite at the table. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.'
NV Brut Reserve - 92 Points
'A pinot noir dominant fizz, with a dollop of chardonnay. Just under two-years on lees, albeit, with significant older reserve wines drawn from oak, large and small, to bolster the texture. Chalk, subtle orchard fruit accents and a whiff of toast. Always a delicious, mid-weighted fizz that is easy drinking, as much as it is subtly sophisticated. Drink or hold.'
To purchase any of these wines please follow the link below.
25/09/2023 at 10:00 AM
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2022 Amphora Malvasia | 2021 Syrah
2022 Amphora Malvasia & 2021 Syrah
2022 Amphora Malvasia Biodynamic
Our 2022 Malvasia is medium gold in appearance. This handsome full bodied wine displays notes of elderflower, fuji apple, bosc pear, musk, marmalade, and aromas of freshly cut herbs such as thyme and oregano. The palate is rich and concentrated with a fine line of acidity. Honey, orange peel and green papaya flesh out the palate while soft well rounded tannins that gives a long and interesting finish. This complexity is due to the fermentation on skins and aging in Amphora.
This wine is rare gem that is a homage to Stefano's family roots of northern Italy region. Malvasia is not commonly grown in Australia, let alone found in the cool-climate region of Tasmania.
The 2022 Malvasia can be paired with a variety of dishes ranging from seafood to white meats. Drink now or cellar for 6+ years.
2021 Syrah Biodynamic
Our 100% Tasmanian grown and made 2021 Syrah biodynamic is an ode to the wines of the Northern Rhone Valley.
A cool-climate Syrah, that trades brashness for elegance because of its trove of naturally fine tannins. A lovely bouquet that has notes of violets, lilacs, blackcurrants and mulberry set over a backdrop of spicy oak and cedar as well as tobacco, these balance the wine's pretty first impressions. The palate is voluptuous and savoury without withholding flavour, texture or satisfaction given its cool-climate origin.
Drink now if you like buoyancy and tension in your reds or hold to see these components relax and flesh out with the benefit of further cellaring. Pair our 2021 Syrah with a juicy, marbled steak cooked slowly over a Hibachi grill to match this wine's brilliant elegance. Cellaring potential 10 years +.
23/08/2023 at 10:00 AM
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2021 Sasso Pinot Noir
Our 2021 Sasso Pinot Noir has received a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards!
'Now in its 20th year, Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) has firmly established itself as the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Respected globally for its rigorous judging process and world-class judges, DWWA results are trusted internationally by both trade and consumers.
The 20th edition of the competition saw 236 international wine experts, from 30 countries, including 53 Masters of Wine and 16 Master Sommeliers evaluate 18,250 wines from 57 countries.
'In the glass the 2021 Sasso shows a vibrant medium ruby in colour. It has a complex nose with notes of sichuan peppercorn, clove, red apple skins, orange and red cherries. The palate is distinctly fine and the fruit beautifully balances between powerful and restrained. Saffron, cut fennel, dried herbs, and pink peppercorns also feature on the palate. The bright acidity along with the silky mouthfeel provides the finishing touch. Pair the 2021 Sasso with truffle, roast duck or pork. Drinking beautifully now the wine will benefit from 10+ years of cellaring.'
The word Sasso means stone in Italian, chosen for this wine due to the predominantly stoney and gravelly soils we have in our vineyard. It is a single site wine coming from three distinct plots in our vineyard at Granton in the Derwent Valley. We are blessed to have such different soil types in our cool Derwent Valley site. This wine is the truest expression of our terroir.
The geology of the plots varies considerably from grey silty gravel over gravelly clay in the Ruscello plot to red chalky clay over limestone in La Roccia plot with the Il Giardino plot having a heavier greyish black clay topsoil over chalk and gravelly clay. The elevation of these plots is 100m above sea level with a 10 to 15 degree north to north east aspect to ensure a high level of phenolic maturity at harvest.
The early releases of Sasso mostly came from the Ruscello plot producing fine boned ethereal Pinot with immediate appeal and lovely softness. In the last three vintages we have introduced the other two plots into the blend to provide greater structure and palate length provided by the heavier soils.
The plots have a vine density of 4500 vines per hectare and are intensively manicured by hand with multiple passes throughout the year to ensure perfect sun exposure, cane positioning and fruit load. Green thinning is extensive for Sasso with a maximum yield of 4 tonnes per hectare, often less. This tiny yield ensures superb and profound concentration, a hallmark of this wine. These plots have been grown Organically/Biodynamically since 2010 and Stefano Lubiana Wines has been certified biodynamic since 2013.
With all the attention and hard work done in the vineyard each year the winemaking takes a backstep. With such clean ripe fruit, winemaking is a straightforward process with no fancy tricks or additions. Most ferments are 100% whole bunch with a few whole berry ferments for blending. All ferments are wild and occur in small open fermenters. The wines are matured in French barriques in our underground cellar for 12 months before bottling on site.
10/07/2023 at 9:37 AM
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Deep Valley Wines | A collaboration between Steve and Marco Lubiana
Deep Valley Wines
A collaboration between Steve and Marco Lubiana
Deep Valley is collaboration between father and son, Steve of Stefano Lubiana Wines and Marco Lubiana. The wines are a balance of Steve's classically graceful winemaking style and Marco’s youthful intuitiveness which has resulted in a new joint label for the talented duo. Developed to produce small batch wines from Steve's sustainable and ethically farmed vineyards located in the Derwent and Huon Valleys, these wines are a pure expression of Steve and Marco's creative winemaking.
The 2022 release blessed us with a Chardonnay from the Derwent Valley and a Pinot Noir from the Huon Valley. Both wines are a limited single vineyard release and are unfiltered and unfined to capture the terroir from which they come from.
Deep Valley Chardonnay 2022 - $60
The fruit for this chardonnay comes from our property at Granton. The grapes were pressed and the juice underwent fermentation in 100% barriques - 20% being new oak, the rest in neutral oak. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was aged on lees for 10 months to promote complexity and give the palate a rounded mouthfeel. Barrel stirring (battonage) was kept at a minimum to preserve freshness in the wine.
Upon opening the wine dispays a rich nose full of lemon peel, grape pith, quince, toast and flint. The palate immediately follows with bright and vibrant acidity, a round and creamy mouthfeel and a long finish. A great match with fresh and cooked shellfish! Cellaring potential 5 years.
Deep Valley Pinot Noir 2022 - $60
Unlike it's counterpart, the fruit for the Deep Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from the cool depths of the Huon Valley. The grapes were cold soaked before fermentation to promote colour richness. Fermentation was with mostly whole berries and were de-stemmed apart from 10% being whole bunch which adds aromatics, tannins and aids in the aging potential. 10% of the wine saw old oak with the remainder in stainless steel to preserve freshness and show the terroir of the Huon Valley!
A wine that is full of red fruits such as raspberry, cherries and hints of rhubarb and spice. The crunchy acidity of the wine is sure to delight! Pair this wine with mushroom, roast chicken or grilled pork! Cellaring potential 5 years.
06/06/2023 at 7:29 AM
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New Releases | 2022 Grüner Veltliner & 2020 Chicane Merlot Malbec
New Releases
2022 Grüner Veltliner
We are excited to annouce the release of our 2022 Grüner Veltliner! For those who are unfamiliar with the variety, Grüner Veltliner (grew-ner velt-lee-ner) is a native Austrian variety and accounts for nearly a third of vineyards in Austria. The variety offers a wide spectrum of flavours that range from citrus and stone fruits to more exotic spicy notes.
Steve's love of Grüner Veltliner started after doing vintage at Pittnauer in Burgenland, Austria in 2012. During his time in Austria he saw and tasted some exception examples of Grüner Veltliner which prompted him with the idea of grafting some vines over to see how the varierty would perform in the Derwent Valley. Now onto our 8th release it is safe to say the Derwent Valleys cool climate is a great match for this aromatic and textural Austrian variety.
The 2022 Grüner Veltliner is a riper style and exudes orange blossom, pear and musk on the nose. The palate is textural with subtle oak, lychee and roses. A great match with grilled artichoke or asparagus, asian spices and rich soft cheeses.
2020 Chicane Merlot Malbec
Merlot and Malbec are originally Bordeaux varities where Merlot still flourishes on the right bank of Bordeaux in St.Emillon and Pomerol. Malbec on the otherhand is still grown in smaller quantities in Bordeaux and around Cahors however it is now a key red variety in Argentina, where it grows in Mendoza at the foothills of the Andes.
The 2020 Chicane Merlot Malbec is a blend of predominantely Merlot. As both Merlot and Malbec have thicker skins than Pinot Noir the wines are more structured with elevated tannin and spend more time in French oak barrels to ensure well integrated oak and soften the tannins.
On the nose the 2020 Chicane has a creamy plum nose with black and red fruits such as cranberry, mulberry, strawberries and pomegranate. Hints of rhubarb overlay the fruit with fennel seed, clove and star anise complimenting the palate. The wine is dry with tight, chalky tannins. A good match with slow braised beef cheeks or charcoal grilled lamb shoulder. Although 2020 is a cooler year than 2019 this release of Chicane will benefit from further cellaring.
We are lucky to be able to produce and release these unique wines however, as our focus here at Stefano Lubiana Wines is on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay these releases are always limited in quantity and sell out before the following vintage! To secure the new 2022 Grüner Veltliner, 2020 Chicane Merlot Malbec or both, please follow the link below.
15/05/2023 at 9:00 AM
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Wine and Family
(Marco, Steve and Mario Lubiana 2008)
We are currently Tasmania’s only certified Biodynamic vineyard. With two vineyards located in Southern Tasmania - one in Derwent Valley and the other located in the Huon Valley. We have a focus on producing only premium quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and, of course, Sparkling wines. Over half of our vineyards are planted in the two great Burundian varietals.
Steve Lubiana, a fifth generation Italian heritage winemaker, hails from Moorook in South Australia. His father, Mario, a post war immigrant from Istria, established Lubiana Wines in the Riverland, South Australia, in 1953. It was always expected Steve would take over his father’s business when the time came, but as some young winemakers do, Steve travelled to Champagne for the 1985 vintage. During this time Steve developed his passion for premium quality sparkling wine.
This led Steve and his new wife, Monique, to Tasmania in 1988 on their honeymoon for a scouting trip. A couple of years after this visit they purchased the original 252-hectare parcel of land at Granton. The Granton vineyard was first planted to 2ha of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir during the spring of 1991. Over the years it has expanded to over 18.5 ha of bearing vines, and now includes Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Shiraz and Malbec among others. An additional 7ha of Pinot Noir was added during the spring 2010. In spring 2019 a further 1.4ha of close-planted Pinot Noir was established.
After achieving Biodynamic certification in 2013 at the Granton Vineyard, Steve and Monique Lubiana purchased the former Panorama Vineyard at Cradoc, Huon Valley in 2015. This added additional10 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Huon Valley vineyard is in conversion and will be certified Biodynamic from 2021.
Much to the delight of Steve and Monique their son, Marco Lubiana, has followed in the family tradition by becoming the 6th generation winemaker. After graduating from Adelaide University in 2018, Marco joined the family business along with launching his own label “Marco Lubiana” marcolubiana.com.au.
In 2020 our gravity fed winery located onsite at our Granton Vineyard in the Derwent Valley has the capacity to process up to 300 tonnes of fruit. We produce 10 000 to 13 000 cases of wine annually. While Vintage 2020 has been dominated by a global crisis, we still have managed to produce high quality biodynamic wines. Currently our Vintage team is made up of Assistant Winemaker, Lauren, along with Batiste from France and Leo from Germany, plus the Tasmanian locals of Justin ......and of course Marco, Monique and Steve Lubiana. We look forward to releasing our first wine from vintage 2020 later this year.
14/08/2020 at 12:00 PM
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Steve, Austria and Blaufrankisch
Steve was introduced to Gerhard Pittnauer of Pittnauer Wines through their mutual friend and agent Patrick Walsh. Pittnauer Wines is based in the cool climate Austrian region of Burgenland along the eastern border with Hungary.
Steve had tasted the biodynamic Pittnauer Wines, and he found them to be bright, generous and authentic with a clear sense of place. Soon after, while Gerhard was visiting Australia for a wine exhibition they were introduced. Steve was in the process of certifying our Granton Estate to biodynamics and they found they had an immediate connection and shared similar environmental philosophies.
Steve was impressed by Pittnauer’s approach to organics, natural and unrestricted overall feel of their winemaking philosophy. Wine can be made using a scientific approach, made with numbers and equations to a formula. Whereas artistic wine styles are usually made by impression, touch and intuition, i.e. understanding the seasonal effects and leading with those rather than trying to insert a square peg into a round hole.
Not long after their initial meeting Steve travelled to Austria and undertook a sabbatical at the Pittnauer Estate. Here he witnessed a confident winemaker flowing with the vintage. Steve, a fifth generation winemaker, who trained at Roseworthy Agricultural College was looking to pare back a little of his mostly technical and academic approach to include a more empathetic methodology. He found that assurance through his experience at Pittnauer.
During Steve’s visit to Austria he also had the opportunity to taste the grape varieties in their environment and assess their suitability to our vineyard at Granton in the Derwent Valley. Steve decided that the two most suited Austrian varieties for our Granton Estate were Blaufränckisch and Grüner Veltliner and so planted a small plot of each. Many of you would have already tasted our Grüner Veltliner, that edges closely to a Pinot Gris and Riesling in style. Our Buon Gusto Club has already had the first taste of our Blaufränkisch and now we are excited to share this new release with you all.
Good friend and wine writer, Jane Faulkner, published an article on Steve Lubiana and Gerhard Pittnauer's relationship and complimentry wine making styles, which with her permission we have included below.
Comments (3)Biodiversity on Every Level!
Biodiversity on Every Level
Through his understanding of how important biodiversity is in agriculture, Steve became aware of the significance of bees and he came to admire them. Steve built his own hives using a similar template to the ‘Warre’ hive. Steve’s thinking is to keep the hive construction as close to nature as possible so that the bees are free to truly express themselves.
Steve has stocked his hives through rescuing swarms. He developed a relationship with a local pest controller who would call him when a household required a swarm removed. Steve would arrive at the address with an empty wine box and some smoke, collect the bees and rehome them in one of his hives. Some of you may have enjoyed the sweet honey collected off our property whilst visiting our winery.
Vines are self-pollinators. Therefore bees are not essential to growing grapes. However we still need them to pollinate our cover crops and the surrounding native bush. Flowers that produce pollen and nectar attract beneficial predator wasps that help keep light brown apple moth at bay. Too many larvae from these little creatures produce less quality grapes, by damaging the stalks and creating nests between berries that invites disease such as botrytis.
Bees also pollinate the surrounding bush of which we have at least 100 ha. This bush-belt is home to many introduced and native birds amongst other native animals that use our vineyard as their Larder keeping insects in balance and bringing the life force with them.
We can recommend the ‘Honeybee Democracy’ by Thomas D. Seeley for further reading about Bees; this book is a true gift to humanity here is a tiny extract.
“….. He discovered that when a bee performs a waggle run inside a dark hive, she produces a miniaturized re-enactment of her recent flight outside the hive over sunlit countryside, and in this way indicates the location of the rich food source she has just visited….”
28/05/2020 at 12:00 AM
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