"Wrights Bay Vineyards" were planted in undulating terra rossa soil in three stages from 1999 to 2001

                                                   in Wrights Bay Road, Mount Benson near Robe in South Australia.

Above & below - viewing west across “Wrights Bay Vineyard” to Wrights Bay and the Southern Ocean.

above - the main administration shed and hard stand, the shedding in the foreground is the North Bore.

The planted area is 52.4 hectares contained in a total freehold area of 68 hectares. There are 20 allotments in total.

Eight have a planted area of 1.64 hectares (Lots 1 – 5, 8, 14 & 20), twelve have a planted area of 3.28 hectares

(Lots 6 & 7, 9 –13 & 15 – 19). The remainder of the Vineyard is taken up a substantial area of revegetation,

shedding and hard stand area, internal roads and substantial plantings of windbreak treelines.

 

Shown above - the Community Plan on the left shows the individual freehold allotments and common areas including the internal roads,

                         revegetation area, hard stand/loading pad and shed sites. The Plan on the right (not to scale) shows the layout and planted area

                         of the irrigation Blocks and the varieties planted in them.

Varieties planted in the Vineyards:

Cabernet Sauvignon – 9.6 hectares (18%);

Shiraz - 12.4 hectares (24%);

Merlot – 9.2 hectares (17%);

Chardonnay – 12.9 hectares (25%);

Sauvignon Blanc – 8.3 hectares (16%)

STAGE ONE was planted in 1999 (Lots 1 – 8, 12 – 14 & 20) with 9.6 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon,

9.2 hectares of Merlot and 8.0 hectares of Chardonnay;

STAGE TWO was planted in 2000 (Lots 15 – 19) with 12.4 hectares of Shiraz and 3.3 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc;

STAGE THREE was planted in 2001 (Lots 9 – 11) with 4.9 hectares of Chardonnay and 5.0 hectares of sauvignon blanc.

Grape purchase:

All of the fruit from "Wrights Bay Vineyards" is contracted to Kingston Estate Wines at least until 2012 vintage at

the market price for the ”Limestone Coast – Other” Region which includes Mount Benson GI, Robe, Beachport,

Elgin Valley (Beachport), Bordertown and vineyards around Lucindale. The prices are published each year in

August / September by the Phylloxera & Grape Industry Board..

Infrastructure

Irrigation System - "Wrights Bay Vineyards" is irrigated from two bores which were sunk and cased in January 1999 and

were tested at flow rates of 30,000 and 28,000 gallons per hour respectively (37.5 l/sec. & 35.0 l/sec.). Both bores are

equipped with Perkins diesel pumps. The bores were sunk to a depth of 20 metres and the standing water level is at 5 metres

in each.

The Southern Bore irrigates Stages 1 & 3 and the Northern Bore irrigates Stages 2 & 3. Each bore irrigates approximately

26.2 hectares of vines plus the native treelines. The bores are linked so that if one is temporarily out of service, the other

can carry its shifts. Each bore has automated shift timing and automated fertigation which delivers liquid fertilizer to the vines

through the dripper tubes. There is a generous margin of redundancy in the system.

The irrigation system was designed by Lawrence Water Systems of Naracoorte SA and requires less than

19,000 gallons per hour from each bore. The salinity level of the water from the bores was tested by Mines & Energy Resources

at values of 341 and 346 milligrams per litre which is well under the maximum recommended level of salinity in water used to

irrigate grapevines (1350 mpl). Testing in 2008 confirmed that there has been no change in the level of salinity.

Below-the South Bore, which irrigates Stages 1 & 3.

Below-the North Bore which irrigates Stages 2 & 3

The tank in the foreground supplies liquid fertiliser (urea) through the irrigation system (fertigation).

The irrigation system provides drip irrigation to each block of vines on a multiple shift rotation

with continuous watering of the native treelines while the pumps are in operation.

Soil moisture monitoring-

The system utilises multiple soil moisture monitoring devices which are installed at strategic locations throughout the Vineyard.

These monitors transmit moisture readings from three levels in the soil to the Vineyard Manager’s office computer and are

an essential tool in managing the vines requirements for water.

                                                     soil moisture monitor                                                              weather data recorder

Weather Data Recorder-

The Vineyard owns, jointly with the adjoining "Guichen Bay Vineyards", the hardware and software comprising

a weather data recording system, which is linked in a network of local vineyards and vineyards in Coonawarra,

Padthaway, Wrattonbully and other South East Regions. This system captures daily readings of wind strength,

temperature, humidity and rainfall for the Vineyard and the others in the Region and provides the Vineyard Manager

with alerts for frost and fungus risk.

Power-

Two phase mains power supply has been connected to the main administration shed by ETSA. The overhead power line

was taken from Wrights Bay Road along the western side of the lane on which the Vineyards are situated, to terminate

opposite the Vineyard entrance. From there the connecting cable was taken underground to ensure that there was no

encroachment on any of the windbreaks or other trees.

Shedding-

The Vineyard is equipped with a multi purpose shed, 18m x 8m x 3.6m, with full concrete floor, to provide machinery

and vehicle bays, equipment and materials storage, workshop, Vineyard Manager’s Office, shower and toilet facility,

fully equipped amenities room to provide dining and kitchen facility.
The main shed has a laboratory facility where the fruit is constantly tested during vintage to monitor baume, Ph and

acid levels.

There is also a lock up chemical storage / mixing / spillage collection / loading facility constructed adjacent to the hardstand area.

This facility has the capacity to store all the requirements of the two Vineyards although each Vineyard has its own facility.

                                      Above- chemical storage shed with mixing, spillage collection and loading facility.

The Administration Office and Workshop (shown below) has a commanding view over both Vineyards.

The Vineyards’ management and administration is located here. The ground around the shed has been landscaped

with trees and shrubs and kikuyu lawn has been laid around the apron of the hard stand and at the entrance to the Vineyard.

There is ample ground available on the apron of the hard stand to construct a Cellar Door facility in future.

Roads and hardstand-

There are 2.8 kilometres of gravel and limestone road constructed in the Vineyard to provide access to each Lot.

There is a substantial hardstand area constructed around the Main Shed to provide turning, parking and loading area.

Revegetation-

Approximately 3.6 hectares of land in the North East of the Vineyard has been dedicated to revegetation

with the planting of approximately 300 trees native to the area. The various species were planted in 1999

as tube stock grown by Reedy Creek Nursery from seeds harvested within 5 kilometres of the Vineyard.

Windbreaks-
In August 1998, approximately 1,100 radiata pines were planted along

the western perimeter of the site and these have become well established.

In the winters of 1999, 2000 and 2001 further plantings of radiata pine, eucalyptus and casuarina were established

as tubestock on the perimeters, and in internal windbreaks. Also during the winter of 2001, two lines of eucalyptus

and casaurina were planted along the eastern boundary of the Vineyard to provide shelter from South Easterly winds.

Above- the treeline on the left is the eastern windbreak planted in 2001.

In the left foreground is the revegetation area - 9 acres replanted in 1999

with trees and shrubs native to the area.

Above -internal windbreak of Tasmanian Bluegums shelter

these chardonnay vines from southerly winds.

Below - Tasmanian Bluegums sheltering shiraz.

There are now 1300 Radiata Pine, 1700 eucalyptus and 3800 casuarina established in the Vineyard. The native treelines

have dedicated irrigation to promote their growth.

              Viewing south over the northern blocks of shiraz.                                            Viewing north over shiraz.

 

Development Phase

"Wrights Bay Vineyards" were planted in three stages from 1999 to 2001:

The 68 hectare block was originally part of a mixed farming enterprise, sown to a variety of crops such as

barley, lupins and lucerne and running sheep and cattle.

Prior to development, 62 inspection pits were dug across the block to expose the soil profile and the profiles were

appraised by Primary Industries SA. The soil type was brown to red/brown sands overlying limestone.

January 1999 - The Vineyards are located over an acquifer which is recharged by a reliable annual rainfall of 630ml

which mostly falls in winter. In January 1999 the two bores to supply irrigation to the vines and windbreak trees through dripper lines

were sunk to a depth of 20 metres and cased to a depth of 15 metres. The standing water level is at 5 metres and the

capacity of the bores were tested at 35.0 and 37.5 litres per second. The salinity levels in the two bores tested

at 341 and 346 ml per litre.

March 1999 - after survey and marking out of the freehold allotments, planting rows, treelines and roads,

construction of internal roads using crushed limestone. Shown here Stage One prepared for planting

cabernet and chardonnay in the spring of 1999 on the eastern side of the mound prepared for construction of the

administration / storage / workshop facility and loading pad.

There are three kilometres of internal roads.

                Constructing the internal roads.                   Constructing the roads at the entrance to the Vineyards

                                                                                       and the loading pad and site for the administration building.

    May 1998 -Constructing the access road from Wrights Bay Road to

                     "Guichen Bay Vineyards" and "Wrights Bay Vineyards"

             

April 1999 - ripping the planting rows to a depth of one metre - shown below Stage Two prepared for planting

sauvignon blanc and shiraz in the spring of 2000. The undulating terrain and length of the rows made the

subsequent construction of the trellis in this part of the Vineyards particularly challenging.

The wires in the trellis have an unbroken length of 500 metres.

The "winged keel"- the tine is designed to shatter the limestone to a depth of

one metre and is fitted with a flange that opens wide the ripline to allow

the soil and subsequently the organic material (eg pig manure)

to permeate the broken stone.

The laser guidance system mounted on the D10 ensures the planting rows are straight and parallel.

Below - viewing south over Stage Two after the planting rows have been ripped and before the broken limestone is crushed by rolling.

July 1999 - shown below, laying the mains irrigation system:

September 1999 - Stage One being prepared for planting cabernet and merlot. After ripping the planting rows, rolling

and crushing the broken limestone, and prior to installing the trellis, the soil is seeded with rye grass which will grow

to one metre and shelter the young vines while they establish themselves after planting in spring of 1999

Above and below - Stages 2 and 3 prepared for planting.

Below- Stage 2 sown with the rye corn cover crop prior to planting the vines.

Below - prior to planting the rootling vines in October 1998, the planting rows are sprayed out .

The rye grass grows to a height of one metre and shelters the young vines from the wind as they establish themselves.

Winter 1999 - preparing the planting material. "Wrights Bay Vineyards" is planted with 96,000 grapevines sourced from various nurseries

                        in South Australia. Shown below a chardonnay scion is grafted to nematode and phylloxera resistant rootstock. The grafted vines

                        spend several months in a hothouse as they develop their roots and are then potted and moved into the open to harden up before

                        being planted in the vineyard in December / January.

Below - young rootlings shown here protected by vine guards and the rye corn cover crop.

The rye corn crop is resown each winter in the mid row.

In their second winter one cane from each side of the trunk is trained along the cordon wire.

November 1999 - flushing the south bore pump, which irrigates Stages One & Three

                                                             Irrigation risers.

 September 2001 - Driving trellis posts in Stage Three before planting Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in spring 2001.

September 2001 Above -viewing east with part of Stage Three in the foreground

and parts of Stages One and Two beyond the treeline.

Below - viewing south to Guichen Bay and the town of Robe. Stage One of "Wrights Bay Vineyards" is in the foreground.

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