Pancake Estate - Our Vines

We have focused on 3 grape varieties, and planted an equal proportion of red and white grape varieties – a move designed to help us meet changing market and consumer expectations.

The vineyard is sited 330 metres above sea level with high hills on three sides. The land slopes west to the floor of the Barossa Valley - and enjoys a Mediterranean climate.

Two creeks run through the vineyard. The deep soil profile reflects centuries of weathering from the rugged hills above the vineyard. A mix of organic matter and black clay, the soils develop deep cracks in the heat of summer – a quality that aids drainage and aeration.

The vineyard floor is managed with a crop of native rhy grass. Mulching the undervine area has improved the structure, fertility and microbiological diversity of the soil – and been a bonus for the general health of each vine.

There is an abundance of underground clean water - which if needed to irrigate the vines (drip system) during dry, hot periods in the growing season will flow through a bore at 15,000 gallons per hour.

The average annual rainfall is 550 mms (21 inches), falling mainly in winter.

Picking

The baume (sugar) level of each grape variety is monitored to determine optimum picking time – between March and April each year depending on the season. Always the chardonnay is picked first, followed by the semillon and shiraz. All the grapes are picked mechanically – with the white varieties picked at night when it is cooler, to minimize oxidation of the fruit.

Pruning

Some months after harvest all the vines receive an initial “barrel pruning” – a mechanical process which removes the long whispy stems, which are then mulched. This step makes it much easier for the teams of hand pruners to access and attend each vine individually – the goal being to control cropping levels.

Trellising

The vineyard layout and trellis systems have been designed to suit the specific needs of the individual wine varieties. For instance, each summer the new shoots from the chardonnay and semilllon vines are lifted using two sets of foliage wires. This labour intensive practice helps control natural viguor, while allowing sufficient leaf shading to prevent sunburn damaging the bunches of grapes.

Environmental practices

A minimal prevention spray program is undertaken (if required) to counter mould and mildew due to un-seasonal rain or humidity. As the vineyard incorporates a large number of magnificent old eucalypt trees, we use big plastic “mock up” black-birds affixed to high posts + warbler alarms to scare birds away. With these measures we do not need to use netting to protect the grapes.