​Topics

• An introduction to living vineyards, agroecology for wine grape growing (and farming for yeasts)

• Predatory arthropods, microbats, insectivorous and raptor birds of prey and how to attract, monitor and look after them

• The plant health pyramid and the importance of grapevine nutrient integrity to enhance fruit quality, and combat pests and diseases without a chemical first approach

• Native insectary plants, how to select and incorporate in the vineyard and the concept of agricultural art

• Biocontrol of insect pests (LBAM, vine moth, scale, mealybug, millipedes, mites)

• Soil health indicators and how to assess them (see below)

• Case study examples:
  - Hydroseeding and potential species for use in the undervine area
  - SPLAT (pheromone technology for LBAM control)
  - Goats for woody weed control
  - Stacked enterprises (native grass seed production, botanicals for gin production and everlastings for cut flower production)

 

Field demonstrations (depending on weather):

• Soil health indicators (earthworm count, macro-organisms, micro-organisms, soil penetration resistance, water infiltration)

• Arthropod assessment and identification using different non-destructive netting techniques 

• Leaf sap testing using a refractometer and Nutriscope by Senseen and the relationship between brix and plant health (use surrogate plant material in winter)

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Programme:
8:30 - 9am: Arrival and registration

9 - 10:30am: Morning session
10:30 - 11am: Morning tea
11am - 12:30pm: Midday session

12:30 - 1:30pm: Lunch 

1:30 to 2pm: Q&A
2 to 3:30pm: Afternoon session in the vineyard
3:30 to 4:30pm: Glass of wine/tasting to finish

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About Dr Mary Retallack:

Mary is the managing director of Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and the founder/manager of the EcoVineyards program, which promotes practical ecological solutions for a broad range of production systems. Her pioneering work on native insectary plants and associated fauna has been showcased on the ABC’s Gardening Australia program.

As an experienced board director, agricultural scientist, agroecologist and third-generation viticulturist, Mary holds a wide range of skills and experience from practical, research, teaching and consultancy roles. She is recognised internationally as a Chartered Agriculturalist (CAg). She has gathered these skills over the past 30 years, along with a PhD in viticulture and plant protection and tertiary qualifications in conservation and park management, natural resource management, education, viticulture and arbitration.

Mary was a keynote speaker at the 2025 Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference. We received amazing feedback on her presentations, and with so much more knowledge to share, we had to get her back for an in-depth NZ tour. 

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To help bring people in from out of region, we have a limited number of discount codes on offer to help with the cost of petrol.

 

The discount code is: OUTOFREGION and can only be applied for those travelling from outside of Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough or Central Otago for the day.