Pruning finished at the end of August, with the final vines trimmed and tied down. Soon after, the early-season varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, began showing leaf in early September.

By the end of the month, the vineyard had taken on a light green tinge that marked the start of the new season.

Spring in the Yarra Valley Vineyard

September is always a critical time for grape growers. During this period, frost can damage vulnerable new growth very quickly.

Historically, some of the worst spring frosts, including those in 1997 and 2006, followed dry winters. In contrast, steady rainfall arrived before spring 2019. The soil profile filled well, and many growers believed frost risk would be lower.

However, vineyard conditions can shift quickly, so everyone remained cautious.

Phylloxera Management in the Vineyard

Our team continued to focus heavily on phylloxera management throughout the season.

When Helen & Joey Estate first planted the vineyard, growers grafted around 60 percent of the vines onto phylloxera-tolerant rootstocks. Since the pest appeared in spring 2015, phylloxera gradually spread through the ungrafted areas of the vineyard.

During winter, the vineyard team removed around 2,000 heavily affected vines.

The team then prepared those areas for replanting in late September once soil temperatures increased. The new plantings included Pinot Noir clones MV6 and 667 grafted onto Teleki 5C rootstock.

The vineyard team also planned additional removal and replanting programs for future seasons.

Cherry Orchard Expansion

Alongside vineyard work, planting continued in the cherry orchard.

In early September, the team prepared to plant another 500 trees following the successful establishment of 2,300 trees the previous year.

The orchard was expected to deliver its first crop in spring 2021. At full maturity, the trees would produce fruit from mid-November through to early January.

Cabernet Franc in the Yarra Valley

The 2019 to 2020 growing season also marked an important milestone for the estate’s Cabernet Franc.

The team planted these vines in September 2017, and they established strongly with minimal intervention. The vineyard crew applied limited irrigation and encouraged the vines to develop deep root systems naturally.

This approach aimed to support long-term vineyard health and fruit quality.

Looking Ahead to the Growing Season

With spring underway and vineyard work progressing well, attention turned towards the weeks ahead.

The immediate focus remained simple: favourable weather and, hopefully, a frost-free month.