Meadowbank Vineyard Development

Now that we are officially into spring and the weather is warming up the development of extra vineyards on Meadowbank Station is moving apace.
During the last week contractors have been working in the additional hectares of bare land.
(I have previously blipped images of this land being developed with the use of bulldozers and the like.) Proposed rows had been marked out with bright pink stakes and long lengths of white polythene piping were laid out on the ground. These pipes form part of the future irrigation system.
A digger has been used to form deep trenches in order to bury the white irrigation piping. In the last couple of days pieces of black polythene piping have appeared looking like black whiskers popping out to the ground. These are the “risers” for the irrigation and are positioned at the end of each future row of vines. If you look carefully you will see two of these risers in today’s image.
I talked with WG, one of the landowners, this evening. He tells me that the new vineyard area encompasses about 6.5 hectares (16 acres) and will be planted with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The future crop from these vines will be supplied to the Spy Valley Winery nearby.
The grape industry has been expanding again after a period of little growth. I have been told by a nurseryman that there is now a severe shortage of grape plants with a three year waiting list for stock. Meadowbank Station is fortunate in that they have their grape plant stock organised.
I will endeavour to keep you up-to-date with future blips depicting the development of this vineyard.