Lone Ranger

What I enjoy about Darling is the fact that it is still so close to nature. I mean yes, obviously I work outside in the field and vineyards, but I doubt there are a lot of vineyards where there are so much bucks, birds, mammals and reptiles. Here are just a few. Saw this guy last week. He is the "Lone Ranger". The only wild Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) I've seen around. He is a little camera shy though.

The next model is what we call in Afrikaans a "Skurwejantjie". As far as I know he is called the "Cape girdled lizard" in English. But anyway, it is of the genus Cordylus. Brilliant little fellow. When you approach him he hardly blinks. My camera lens almost touches him when I photograph him.




Next we have the Secratarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius). I only see them in winter. They are always in a pair. Very secretive birds and very alert. Well, wouldn't expect anything else from a bird of prey. They are very difficult to photograph, unless you have a massive zoom lens.



And finally, the Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradisia), South Africa's national bird. Also usually found in pairs, but I have photographed them in flocks of more than fifty. I might do a post about them someday.



And to end this post just a nice picture I took last year.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Lupines are sometimes sown in the working rows of vineyards as `n cover crop. Now, besides the obvious benefits of erosion control, soil temperature regulation, soil moisture control and weed suppression, these legumes have something very special about them.

On the roots of these Lupines, nitrogen-fixing bacteria are "binded" to the roots. They work in symbiosis with the plant. This bacterium is called Bradyrhizobium japonicum. It is a nodulating, microsymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium species.

Approximately 80 percent of the atmosphere is nitrogen gas (N2).Plants cannot use nitrogen in this form. They use NH3 (ammonia) to manufacture amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids and other nitrogen-containing components.

Legumes nitrogen-fixation starts with the forming of a nodule on the root.

The plant supplies all nutrients and water for the bacteria to grow, and the nodule multiplies very fast from here on. Young nodules are usually grey to white on the inside. This is due to the fact that they are not fixating nitrogen yet. As they get older, the inside turn pinkish-red. This indicates that they are fixating nitrogen. The pink or red color is caused by Leghemoglobin (similar to hemoglobin in blood) that controls oxygen flow to the bacteria.

The nitrogen fixing doesn't come free. The plant still needs to donate a substantial amount of energy and nutrition towards the bacteria to help it with the fixation process. If the plant is stressed (due to too cold weather, drought or nutrient deficiency), nitrogen fixation will will be stalled or progress at a slow pace.

The nitrogen doesn't "leak" into the soil so that other plants can use it. When the legume dies and decomposes, it releases the nitrogen into the soil in a usable form, so that other plants (grapevines in this case) can use it.

Introduction

Welcome to Darling Vines. This blog was created by the viticulturist of Darling Cellars, South Africa, Jaco Engelbrecht. It is intended to be a weekly blog, so I will try to update it every Friday. I don’t plan on writing a lot, its more of a photo blog.

Just a few things before I start with the actual first post.


In 1948, Mamre Weg Cooperative Cellar was established. 1996 heralded a new era for the region of Darling with the establishment of the private cellar: Darling Cellars. With the unique terroir and recent demarcation of the Darling district, the focus has been on wines which are region and varietal true. About 23 shareholders produce grapes from a total of ±1300ha, averaging 6 tons/ha.

The cool and temperate West Coast climate lends itself to a variety of different micro- and mesoclimates which, along with the different soil types, lead to unique grapes which we guide into even more unique wines. Having 90% of all vineyards dry land and roughly the same percentage bush vine (i.e. not trellised), this is as close to what nature intended for grapes to be as one can get. This all culminates into wines which are true to the terroir from which they come and are true to the identity which we have crafted over time for our wines.

(Adjusted from the Darling Cellars website: www.darlingcellars.co.za)

That’s all for the intro, more on soil, weather and things in the vineyards at a later time.