 Jindong
Moon
Owned and operated
by Rob and Julie
Drummond, Jindong
Moon is a boutique
Cabernet Sauvignon
vineyard that utilises
principles of Biodynamic
Viticulture.
Siituated in Western
Australia's famous
Margaret River wine
growing region,
Rob and Julie bought
the property in
1995. They planted
their first grapes
in 1998 and produced
their first vintage
in 2002.
Margaret
River
Located on the
south-western tip
of the Australian
continent, Margaret
River enjoys near
perfect conditions
for viticulture.
Its west coast Mediterranean
climate features
mild, wet winters
and warm, dry summers
- ideal for the
growth of high quality
fruit. The ocean
also benefits the
area as the consistent
summer sea breeze
maintains a relatively
high humidity.
The region is about
110kms long from
north to South and
27kms from east
to west, and in
a relatively short
time has become
recognised as one
of Australias premium
wine producing regions.
On the advice of
a report by eminent
Western Australian
agronomist Dr John
Gladstones in 1965,
vineyards were established
in the area for
the production of
high quality table
wines.
The first commercial
vines were planted
in 1967 at Dr Tom
Cullity's Vasse
Felix vineyard.
However, the original
wine pioneers were
Di and Dr Kevin
Cullen, who owned
a property abutting
Vasse Felix and
planted an experimental
acre in the previous
year. From these
small beginnings,
the Margaret River
Wine industry has
continued to grow,
with the region
now boasting over
200 established
vineyards/wineries.
Today Margaret River
is arguably the
purest wine enviroment
in the world and
has become renowned
for producing wines
of character and
depth.
Jindong
Jindong is a new
subregion of Margaret
River - about 15
kilometres to the
east and slightly
north of the main
Margaret River vineyard
area in the Willyabrup
Valley.
A popular online
guide to the world's
wine regions (http://www.wine-searcher.com/)
decribed Jindong
as an area "characterized
by small wineries,
family owned and
run, producing small
parcels of world-class
wines."
Abundant space,
excellent red loam
soils, shelter from
westerly winds,
crystal clear water
and a slightly warmer
climate gives Jindong
wines additional
richness.
Principals
of Biodynamic
Viticulture
1. Does
not using
chemically
synthesised
fertilizers,
insecticides,
herbacides,
fungacides,
fumugants,
hormones,
antibiotics
or growth
regulators
2. Promotes
the individuality
of a vineyard
by minimising
outside influences
and recycling
vine and wine
residues back
into the vineyard |
A swarm of
happy honey
bees taking
a rest in
the safe and
healthy
Jindong Moon
vineyard
|
3.
Promotes soil
vitality through
increased
microbiological
activity and
diversity
4. Emphasises
soil health
as a means
of increasing
the health
of the vines
5. Uses cover
drops and
companion
plants to
maximise the
health of
he vineyard
environment
6. Controls
pests through
soil management,
biodynamic
sprays and
cover crop
rotation
According
to Wikipedia,
grape growers
using biodynamic
methods have
"found
immediate
improvements
in the health
of their vineyards,
specifically
speaking in
the areas
of biodiversity,
soil fertility,
crop nutrition,
and pest,
weed, and
disease management"
and winemakers
"have
noted stronger,
clearer, more
vibrant tastes,
as well as
wines that
remain drinkable
longer."
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