Vineyard finds new use for sun's rays

A tiny vineyard at the head of the Hakataramea Valley has big plans for its sunny slopes.

• Call for incentives to use solar energy

Not only is Kurow Estate's Riverside vineyard capturing the sun's rays for use in wine-making, but those running it also plan to harness the sun's energy to power up the national grid.

Kurow Estate's operational manager Geoff Turner said the company aimed to be to be carbon-neutral.

This was what had motivated it to investigate solar energy.

If a solar-energy plant proved viable it would be used to offset the company's carbon emissions and any excess energy would be fed back into the national grid, Mr Turner said.

At present the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) was carrying out tests and monitoring sunshine hours, rainfall and temperature to determine the viability of the idea, Mr Turner said.

Although the company's Riverside vineyard was still in the experimental stage, it was already producing good wines with quite distinctive characteristics, Mr Turner said.

The particular limestone soils and temperature range at the site seemed to produce fruit more intense in flavour, he said.

The company and property is owned by Italian-born Antonio Pasquale.

The first 3ha of vines were planted soon after Mr Pasquale bought the property in 2001, Mr Turner said.

The Pasquale family have produced wine in Italy for generations.

It was this which led Mr Pasquale to experiment with grape-growing at the Hakataramea Valley property and gradually plantings have increased to 15ha.

It was a challenging area in which to grow grapes, Mr Turner said.

It might not always produce quantities of fruit but if it produced something special every year, as it appeared to be doing, then every effort was worthwhile, he said.

The vines on the north-facing slopes were "later waking up" than those further down the valley.

However, they were still susceptible to the inevitable but unpredictable late frost, he said.

An overheard sprinkler system had been designed and frost fans installed to protect the vines.

The vineyards were built to make the most of the short growing season, he said.

Narrow canopies allowed for light penetration and better ripening in the shorter growing period.

The company was trying to meet environmentally sustainable standards in all aspects of its operations, while still being "financially responsible", he said.

Several varieties of grapes were grown at Riverside - pinot noir, riesling, gewurtztraminer, pinot gris, an arneis (an Italian variety), chardonnay, viognier and a few varieties were being trialled - dolcetto, malbec and temporillo, Mr Turner said.

The Kurow Winery Cellar Door, on SH83 - the Kurow-Duntroon Rd, will open next month.