Harvest at MRC’s Rowley Crescent Vineyard also took place for a pruning trial collaboration between Bragato Research Institute (BRI), NMIT, Mark Allen from Mark Allen Vineyard Advisory Services and four growers, including MRC’s Rowley Crescent Vineyard.
The research, led by BRI, is investigating whether long-spur cordon pruning could be a suitable alternative to 4-cane pruning for Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough. The project will compare yields, disease, costs and wine quality.
“A third-year student from the NMIT Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking degree has been doing the canopy assessment with Yuichi Ando, BRI’s Viticulture Research Technician”, says Dr Stewart Field, NMIT’s Research and Viticulture Lecturer. “In the final year of the degree, students get involved in real world research projects.”
The BRI team is now making wine from the grapes at the Research Winery, and the trial will run for two more years.