2008 season well under way

The 2008 season is well under way with great weather to kick start a great season. The Shiraz is almost at full canopy already and early indications look good for a great crop. Flowering is almost complete in both the Shiraz and the Muscat and then the grapes start to grow.

There is very little disease pressure this year from either powdery or downy mildew because of the weather patterns which is a great thing. Light brown apple moth are about but not in great quantities so they can eat a few leaves then eventually move on. Light winter rains did not fill the dams this year but we have enough for the season. We will probably not water the Shiraz at all this year in order to get a concentrated berry. The Muscat however has a few new plantings so we'll need to water that.