Windowrie Estate Wines
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David and Wizz O'Dea are the founders of Windowrie Estate. Windowrie was purchased in 1959 and David and Wizz worked together in the production of various cereal crops.
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The Winery
The vision for the winery was to combine the latest technology with traditional techniques, and most importantly to reduce the critical time between picking and crushing the grapes. Because the Windowrie Estate vineyards surround the winery, winemaking can begin within minutes of harvesting.
The winery is also accredited as a organic processor allowing the winery to make organic wine from organially grown grapes. The winery has the capacity to handle small volumes of fruit through to very large parcels up to 200 tonnes in one night.
The winery is dedicated to working with with non core varietals to access the ability of the region to produce regional wines of outstanding quality.
In 2008, in an effort to increase the biodiversity of the winery site, Windowrie set aside 100000 square meters surrounding the winery to establish a regeneration project.The aim of the project is to increase biodiversity and to offset carbon production at Windowrie. The first of five thousand native trees and shrubs were planted in January 2008. Waste water from the winery will be treated and used to help establish the project. With support from the LCMA the plan is to return the entire area to its natural state by 2012.
The Vineyard
The gently undulating slopes of the Windowrie vineyard allow for excellent air drainage. To maximise light interception, vine rows are planted north to south and various types of canopy management are used including Scott Henry and Smart Dyson. These systems also aid in the control of vigour and ensure the fruit flavour characteristics of the Windowrie wines.
Supplementary irrigation is supplied via a drip system from an underground aquifer. Various methods of irrigation are employed such as Restricted Deficit Irrigation and Partial Root Zone Drying.
Windowrie Estate practises minimal intervention - no insecticides are used - and this ensures that natural predators flourish. Windowrie also manage an accredited organic vineyard and offer advice and management to vineyards in the region.
Grape varieties are planted according to which soil type irrigation method and canopy management are required for maximum quality and varietal fruit flavour. Windowrie Estate believes that the combination of the natural soil, climate, topography and water and careful management practices allow the growth of clean, fresh, full flavoured grapes.
Windowrie are dedicated to experimentation in the vineyard. This includes the planting of several non core varietals in order to learn which varieties are best suited to this relatively young region. Windowrie has the following varieties planted on its vineyards : Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Cabernet Franc.
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