A Testimonial from Nigel Blieschke, Chief Viticulturalist
In South Australia’s Barossa Valley, rainfall is low and variable – around 520mm a year – and premium winegrape production depends on getting irrigation right. For Nigel Blieschke, Chief Viticulturalist at Torbreck Vintners, the challenge is clear.
When Nigel joined Torbreck in 2015, many vineyards were struggling. Blocks were losing canopies early and the resulting fruit was only suitable for wines at the $30 price point. Working with SWAN Systems, Nigel and his team integrated soil moisture data, crop coefficients, and forecasts to fine-tune irrigation to the needs of the vines.
“In a dry environment, if we lose canopy to water stress that is definitely a failure. Poor irrigation management leads to premature defoliation, which reduces grape quality.”
The results have been transformational. Initially, Torbreck saw improvements in canopy health. Over time, the impact flowed through to the wines themselves:
“Now we’re seeing the wine quality outcomes we were aiming for. One younger vineyard has moved from a $30 bottle to a $150 bottle.”
SWAN has helped Torbreck to:
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Protect canopy health on shallow soils prone to water stress
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Respond quickly to mini-droughts and heatwaves with predictive scheduling
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Target irrigation to balance vine health with premium wine quality
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Build confidence in irrigation management settings that align with viticultural goals
Nigel concludes:
“We’re very comfortable with the system. It gives us confidence to achieve the quality outcomes we need while maintaining vine health.”
