The Muddy Water vineyard has always been managed with a sustainable approach but more recently the conversion to organic production has been made.
The formal start to organic certification was in October 2007 and since then we have managed the vineyard as fully organic according to the standards set down by AsureQuality. The vineyard will be certified as fully organic from October 2010. We chose AsureQuality as our certifier as they meet the strict international organic standards that are recognised around the world. The first fully certified wines will be from the 2011 vintage.
We no longer use any synthetic herbicides or fungicides. Diseases are controlled with soft fungicides, biological sprays, seaweed, compost tea and excellent canopy management. The undervine area is managed using an undervine weeder twice a year to reduce undervine growth and sheep are allowed to graze in the vineyard during winter.
Cover crops have been established in between the rows as an alternative to grass. The crops used are a mixture of herbs and flowering plants to encourage and provide food for beneficial insects. In springtime the buzz of life in the vineyard is audible, as the ladybirds, bees, hoverflies and lacewings go about their business.
We have started making compost using winery waste (grape skins) and hay from our paddocks. This will be spread back out into the vineyard to mulch around the vines, reducing weed competition and increasing water retention.
All our staff appreciate the fact that they work in an organic vineyard. There are no worries that they will come into contact with harmful chemicals as they are doing the important vineyard tasks.
Our vines are showing more balance and strength and are more representative of the soils and the season in which they are grown.
Muddy Water Vineyard and Winery are certified Organic as of Harvest 2011!
> Muddy Water Organic Certification Part 1
> Muddy Water Organic Certification Part 2