With grand plans to elevate Yarra Valley Cabernet blends to unprecedented heights, the aim of Centare Vineyard’s high density project, is to produce wines of Grand Cru quality through high density vineyard planting.
Australian vineyards, where both sunshine and land tend to be plentiful, usually have rows from 1.8 to 3 metres apart, and vines tend to be planted at 1.5 metres apart, with planting density varying from approx 1700-2800 vines per hectare. Grapevines are allowed to thrive naturally, with their growth largely uninhibited by any competition from their neighbours. The distance between trellises, particularly in modern vineyards, is largely determined by the width of the tractor required to drive down it. The greater the distance between vines - row to row, and vine to vine - the greater the sunshine exposure for ripening and the better the airflow for disease management.