Celestial Bay Viticultural Practices
Site
The vineyard is situated roughly halfway between Margaret River and Bussleton, 5 km east of the Wilyabrup Valley and 10 km from the Indian Ocean. This proximity to the ocean provides a moderating effect on our climate, reducing temperature extremes and ensuring a more secure water resource.The vineyard is moderately undulating, with a 5% gradient being the steepest slope on the property, and is situated at between 90 and 100 meters above sea level.The soils are a mixture of alluvial loams, which occur in the 2 old creek lines on the property, gravelly loam (Forest Grove soil) on sloping areas and Mungite soils located on the flat laterite ridges.Vine rows are generally oriented north – south to balance sun exposure received by each row daily and annually as the sun moves towards the north later in the season.
The site comprises 50 hectares planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Site Preparation and Improvement
Extensive subsoil drainage has been used in some previously poorly drained areas of the vineyard with great success and straw mulch has been applied on some sandy areas (Mungite soils), which has improved water and nutrient retention.
Viticulture
All vines are grown on their own roots. For the most part, each variety has been planted in a site that best matches varietally specific growth habits. Vigorous varieties have been planted in lighter soils that tend to be dryer, thereby limiting excess vigour. Less vigorous varieties have been panted in more fertile locations.
The vineyard is drip irrigated with regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies. In summary, the soil is kept moist until fruit set and then allowed to dry out until shoot growth stops or veraison (colour change) occurs. Water is then applied until approximately a week before harvest. After harvest, irrigation again commences, as needed based on soil moisture, until leaf fall, ensuring the plants secure enough carbohydrate stores in root structure to support initial green growth in spring. Water requirements are gauged using gypsum blocks, vine appearance, soil feel and pan evaporation records. The philosophy behind RDI is that it reduces berry size, thereby increasing skin to pulp ratios (important in red varieties) whilst also concentrating flavour intensity (important to both white and red varieties). Vegetative growth is also controlled by RDI, allowing for more plant energy to be channelled towards fruit ripening and flavour, colour and tannin development.
Our vineyard canopy is trained using a Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) system. Both cane and spur pruning techniques are used dependent on variety. Fruit and shoot thinning and canopy thinning are applied as required to achieve a balance of fruit to vegetative growth.
Agrochemicals are used on the property according to Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) guidelines; however such use is kept to the minimum levels practicable for such a large property. Broad spectrum insecticides are not used, while herbicides are used twice a year to control under-vine weeds. Fungicides are used with resistance management strategies in mind. In general, the Margaret River climate is favourable to viticulture, minimizing the use of such inputs.
Soil is an important resource and soil care is integral to our vineyard management philosophy. Mid-row cultivation is minimal; a permanent sward is grown, using a mixture of clover, and perennial ryegrass. Increasing undervine organic matter is achieved with the application of straw mulch and composted material and the judicious use of herbicides. Additionally, sheep are used in winter to control weed growth.
Nutrient replacement is determined by annual petiole analysis and the calculation of nutrient removal by fruit. Nutrients are applied by fertigation, broadcast distribution of specific minerals and the application of organic supplements.
Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Petit Verdot - Grown on north facing slopes in Forest Grove soil.
Merlot – Grown on slightly undulating ground in Mungite soil.
Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc – Grown on flat ground situated on the highest point of the vineyard in Mungite soil.
Chardonnay and Semillon (old) – Grown on slightly undulating ground in Mungite soil, graduating to alluvial loam.
Chardonnay and Semillon (new) – Grown Forest Grove soil on an east facing slope. Exposed to cooler morning sun and shaded form hotter afternoon sun.
Back to top ^