APAL soil test vital ingredient in award-winning wines

25/01/2007 12:00:00 AM

On the far western side of the country, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, is a town called Augusta, home to Briarose Estate Vineyard.

In a place with prevailing ocean winds about seven months of the year, it may seem a most unlikely location to grow award-winning wines. But that’s exactly what proprietors Brian and Rosemary Webster are doing, together with their Viticulture Manager Wayne Challis and a team of assistants.

A former dairy and beef grazing property, Briarose Estate was established in 1998 as a semi-retirement venture for Brian and Rosemary (pictured right), business people from Perth who had spent their holidays in Augusta for 30 years.

While it is technically part of the Margaret River region, its position 45 km south brings with it a totally different climate—much cooler and subject to maritime influences.

In fact it was identified by internationally renowned viticulturist Dr John Gladstones as one of the best potential areas in the world for growing grapes—a glowing recommendation but one that doesn’t reflect the inherent challenges it presents.

“The vigorous, prevailing wind is a limiting factor,” says Wayne, as it brings sodium, causing leaf burn, and, of course, means sodium management in the soil and canopy is a top priority.

“The wind can limit the growth of the vines at critical points such as bud burst, but on the positive side it keeps frost away and fungal disease is minimised,” he says.

Three years ago Wayne embarked on soil and leaf testing to determine how he could better manage the vineyard. The vineyard was divided into seven blocks to represent its different soil types.

Test helps identify soil's limiting factors

Through WA Rural Liquid Fertiliser representative, Paul Freeman, Briarose Estate’s soil samples were sent to the Australian Perry Agricultural Laboratory (APAL) in Magill, South Australia.

It is the only soil laboratory in Australia that uses the Albrecht soil testing analysis method, a comprehensive soil audit taking all essential chemical elements, plus hydrogen, into account.

Calcium deficiencies, common in the region, were found at Briarose along with low potassium and boron levels and zinc was limited.

Wayne says the soil test helped to identify what the soil’s limiting factors were and its holding capacity, which enabled recommendations to be made about precise fertiliser quantities.

Applying a ground, calcium carbonate limestone substance, which Wayne believes acts faster and stays in solution longer, has been one of the main treatments to correct the soil.

Foliar sprays have also been used when certain soils “lock up” nutrients causing deficiencies in the vine. APAL’s tissue analyses identify vine nutrient needs and with the use of foliar sprays, immediate action can be taken to give the plant what it needs.

While success was achieved in the first year, a decision was made to continue implementing the Australian Perry Agricultural Laboratory recommendations so that a comparison could be made and progress measured.

“In the second year we did extremely well and were building calcium levels, we knew the ground limestone was starting to work. In the third year we showed marked improvement of calcium levels in the soil structure which showed itself in better canopy size and the general health of the vines,” says Wayne.

“We were also starting to better manage our sodium levels. We had levels that weren’t ideal and we have been able to turn them around so they are not a direct influence on the vines any more.”

Wayne says a major advantage of having the vineyard soil tested is knowing exactly what to apply.

What's going to hold and what's not

“Within each of the soil profiles, we know what’s going to hold and what’s not. We’ve been able to start using a fertiliser replacement program where we apply enough to grow the crop in without excess fertiliser leaching into the water table.”

As Wayne points out, not only is that environmentally responsible it means he doesn’t waste money.

The attention and commitment to improving the vineyard’s soil has produced outstanding results for Briarose Estate and its winemaker Cathy Oates. In September last year, its 2002 Sauvignon Blanc beat 47 other entries to take out a gold medal at the Qantas WA Wine Show at Mount Barker—the first time Brian and Rosemary had entered their wines in a show. It surpassed other major wineries in the process that had won gold medals in the Perth Royal Show.

In December, its Sauvignon Blanc won gold again at the Wesfarmers Landmark Margaret River Wine Show and the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon took silver. Their Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Blend also won bronze medals in both wine shows.

Briarose Estate is currently constructing a cellar door facility that will be open to the public soon.