CropWatch

By MVGWTA

What's CropWatch about?

CropWatch endeavours to provide growers in the McLaren Vale region with technical information on key viticultural issues such as pest and disease identification, risk and management.

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CropWatch episodes:

03.14.2024
CropWatch Vintage 2024 Ep5
Vintage 2024 is halfway through picking in the McLaren Vale Wine Region. James, Jen and special guest agronomist Harry Shaw assess grapes after the four-day heatwave. How are the varietals Nero d'Avolo, Aglicianico, Mataro, Montepuliciano compared to Shiraz and Cabernet...
01.25.2024
"So, was lots of rain a good thing?
Jen and James chat about the challenges of a wet summer in McLaren Vale.
12.07.2023
CropWatch Podcast Vintage 2024, Episode 3
Berries Peasize is this a good time to have rain? James and Jen catch up between Thunderstorms to talk rainfall, disease resistance and upcoming workshops hosted by McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism.
10.19.2023
Bio-Scout and reflections on vintage 2023 growing season.
In this episode James and Jen discuss the new Bio-Scout fungal spore monitoring system and reflect on the growing conditions in vintage 2023.
08.24.2023
Behind the scenes at the MVGWTA Reworking & Grafting Workshop
The CropWatch Podcast returns for a new vintage looking at changing varieties and reworking vineyards. Jen and James review presentations from Foundation Viticulture | South Australia | Nick Dry, which featured websites to help you pick new varieties using the Australian...
03.30.2023
CropWatch Mid-harvest Vintage 23
Rain overnight has changed conditions on vineyards. Canopies and bunches are wet. James Hook is joined by Jen Pedder Agronomist and grape grower to check for Botrytis in the McLaren Vale CropWatch weather station monitoring site. Discussed in this podcast; Harvest is...
03.22.2023
As vintage 2023 progresses
Harvest is approaching 30% complete in the McLaren Vale Wine Region. James and Gill meet up to discuss why harvest is late, spring and autumn are cool, and some of the factors that have led to low yields.
02.28.2023
CropWatch Vintage 2023
CropWatch Vintage 2023 Alternative varieties - how are they looking for Vintage 2023. James Hook and Gill Gordon Smith look at the performance of Fiano, Vermentino, Negro Amaro, Nero d'Avolo, Aglianico and Sagrantino.
01.23.2023
Highs and Lows of the Vintage 2023 Growing Season
CropWatch Vintage 2023 - Ep 1 - Highlights & Lowlights Vintage 2023 has been a challenging season for McLaren Vale grapegrowers. James Hook is joined by Jen Pedder as regular host Gill Gordon-Smith is overseas. Recorded just on veraison (E-L...
04.13.2022
Reflecting on Vintage 2022
Vintage 2022 is all but complete. Gill and James reflect on grape quality and key weather events this season as well as discuss climate predictions for next season.
02.17.2022
Slow Ripening
Vintage 2022 is slowly progressing. In this episode, Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook catch up to answer why ripening is slow and what is the reason for green berries in bunches this season?
11.25.2021
La Nina Declared
James and Gill discuss the declaration of a La Nina weather event and what that means locally for the McLaren Vale wine community. The risks from downy mildew and bunch botrytis are discussed. What is the difference between botrytis noble...
09.16.2021
Welcome to Vintage 2022
The CropWatch podcast returns for Vintage 2022. In this episode, Gill and James discuss the value of Grenache in the McLaren Vale Wine Region, what we can learn from the European Vintage currently underway, and how the wine community should “play...
03.23.2021
Vintage 2021 in Review
While the harvest is not quite picked, James and Gill discuss why Vintage 2021 is already being classed as excellent. They also speculate on how Vintage 2019 and 2020 will be remembered, and what 2022 could bring.
12.23.2020
No disasters here
James Hook and Gill Gordon-Smith discuss how summer is proving to be mild and dry for McLaren Vale grapegrowers, but there is likely to be flooding elsewhere in Australia over the next two weeks.
11.05.2020
Downy Mildew: What Makes and Outbreak?
Live from the vineyard, Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook discuss what makes a downy mildew outbreak.1- Not knowing there is a problem.2- Not being able to access vineyard to keep up protection.3- Not having access to post infection (eradicant)...
10.01.2020
2021 Vintage - La Nina
La Nina is expected. What does it mean for McLaren Vale? Wet conditions are likely to continue and this is looking like a vintage of rain and fungus; rather than one of heat waves and berry burn. Note: At the...
06.09.2020
2020 Summary
Recorded at the start of Winter 2020, James Hook reviews the Vintage for McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association.The weather conditions through winter to autumn harvest, are considered and key viticultural points are discussed.Highlights include the lack of rainfall...
03.24.2020
Talking About Vintage 2020
Gill Gordon Smith and James Hook drove around our region as harvest enters its last weeks. They keep their talk focused on Vintage 2020!Gill asks some of the frequently asked questions from this season including going into detail about Rust...
01.28.2020
Summer In Spring, Spring in Summer.
Recorded on January 24th during a cool period after rain, James and Gill discuss how the vintage is looking later than typical. Topics addressed include how there has been very little berry splitting seen, rain reducing the risk of smoke...
01.05.2020
2020 Fire
Recorded at the start of January this edition of the CropWatch podcast covers the effects of hot soil temperatures on vines, smoke taint and bush-fire recovery.
10.28.2019
Vineyard Walk
As flowering begins, James and Gill visit a “training” vineyard to share hacks on pest and disease monitoring.
09.11.2019
Spring
"Recorded September 2019 at Bud Burst. James and Gill discuss their predictions for the coming vintage. What is similar to last spring? We have a pretty similar climate forecast. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains the main driver of...
05.02.2019
Vintage 2019 Recap
Finally with some rain hitting the roof, filling tanks and soaking the soil Gill & James discuss Vintage 2019 and look at the future. "
02.28.2019
24/7 picking.
Recorded live on the last day of summer 2019 in McLaren Vale (February 28th). Harvest is in full swing with the 2019 vintage being picked and processed. James and Gill discuss two vineyards one of which is suffering while the...
02.14.2019
Heat Aftermath
Recorded in February 2019, late summer, James and Gill talk about fruit ripening (EL 37). *James makes a gaff where he says “Petiole” which is the leaf stem, when he means “Racchi” which is the bunch stem.
01.23.2019
Hot Hot Hot!
Recorded in January 2019, the high of summer, on the hottest day in living memory. James and Gill look at the key growth stage of veraison (EL-35) and how extreme weather events affect ripening.
12.06.2018
Strange Days
Recorded in November 2018, late spring in McLaren Vale. James and Gill discuss grapevine flowering (EL-19 to 25) and how storms can reduce yields by affecting berry set.
11.20.2018
Biosecurity
Recorded in October 2018: James & Gill discus how members of the grape and wine community can help protect vineyards from phylloxera and other pests and diseases.
11.15.2018
A Green Drought In The Vineyard
Recorded in October 2018, mid spring in McLaren Vale. James & Gill discuss spring weather conditions during early shoot growth (EL-7-15) and how dry weather affects vineyard growth.
10.23.2018
Grenache
Recorded in September 2018, early spring in McLaren Vale, as vines undergo bud burst (growth stage EL-4). James and Gill discuss the importance of Grenache as a variety in McLaren Vale. *James makes a gaff about how much Merlot is...

What's CropWatch about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

CropWatch episodes:

CropWatch Vintage 2024 Ep5

"So, was lots of rain a good thing?

CropWatch Podcast Vintage 2024, Episode 3

Bio-Scout and reflections on vintage 2023 growing season.

Behind the scenes at the MVGWTA Reworking & Grafting Workshop

CropWatch Mid-harvest Vintage 23

As vintage 2023 progresses

CropWatch Vintage 2023

Highs and Lows of the Vintage 2023 Growing Season

Reflecting on Vintage 2022

Slow Ripening

La Nina Declared

Welcome to Vintage 2022

Vintage 2021 in Review

No disasters here

Downy Mildew: What Makes and Outbreak?

2021 Vintage - La Nina

2020 Summary

Talking About Vintage 2020

Summer In Spring, Spring in Summer.

2020 Fire

Vineyard Walk

Spring

Vintage 2019 Recap

24/7 picking.

Heat Aftermath

Hot Hot Hot!

Strange Days

Biosecurity

A Green Drought In The Vineyard

Grenache