COMPANY BACKGROUND AND PHILOSOPHY - TERRACES

The Terraces is a McLaren Vale based company, which has been operating for 15 years. We specialize in management of vineyards and provide a complete range of services for establishment and maintenance of vineyards.

We are a one stop shop for all your requirements from labour provision, tractor operations, providing technical services, consulting and total management.

We service a range of vineyards within the Mclaren Vale/Fleurieu region from 6 acres to 250 acres in size with a diversity in age, soil, varieties and canopies.  Each vineyard has its own specific requirements which we manage thus ensuring the best results for both the grower and the winery.  The company has been a grower for 20 years, which means that we understand the needs and requirements not only of the vineyard but also the wineries, and growers.  Meeting winery expectations and requirements will be the key to long term success of growers within the wine industry and The Terraces  affiliations with a number of wineries ensures we can offer the appropriate advice and direction for growers.

The company is committed to process improvement and is currently undertaking a quality assurance program to ensure we meet the highest possible standards within the industry.  We have an enthusiastic and dedicated workforce of qualified and trained individuals willing to meet the needs of the individual grower.  We have made a genuine commitment to training and professional development with a significant percentage of employees undertaking viticultural studies.

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

The Terraces specialises in development and management of vineyards.  We manage the entire process including:

·        Site selection

·        Arranging winery contracts

·        Council development approval

·        Budgeting and cash flow projections

·        Irrigation design and  Installation

·        Trellis installation

·        Planting and Vine training

Establishing a vineyard to a high standard and specification is crucial to its long term success. Planning and attention to detail are vitally important in the early stages of a development and we believe this is the key to a successful vineyard.

Our team of viticulturists and supervisors are committed to this process and recognise the importance of the first 18 months of your vineyards life.

Management of your existing vineyard will incorporate the following:

·        Budgeting

·        Herbicide and Fungicide spray programs

·        Irrigation scheduling and maintenance

·        Fertiliser programs

·        Planning and coordination of all vineyard activities

·        Winery liaison

·        Pruning specifications

·        Pest and Disease Management

·        Coordinate yield estimates, grape sampling and harvesting

·        Coordinate soil moisture monitoring

The use of technology in viticulture is becoming increasingly important and The Terraces is utilizing and/or keeping abreast of the latest technology. The importance of obtaining and utilizing information in a timely manner is vitally important to ensure the most effective decisions are made. The key areas for technology use are in plant and equipment, soil moisture, irrigation and pest and disease control.  The use of soil moisture probes and weather stations allows our managers to make effective informed and timely decisions. We use a variety of soil moisture devices and irrigation controllers and are well positioned to provide advice on what may suit your individual needs. We are regularly updating our tractor fleet and range of vineyard equipment to ensure we can manage your vineyard as efficiently as possible.

Share Farming and Vineyard Recovery

For those people who may not be in a position to have us manage their block we can assist on a short or long term basis by share farming the block until such time that you would become self sufficient again.

Similarly we could assist those people who may find that their vineyard has not been a high priority and have let it run down. We offer a recovery service whereby with careful planning and attention we can bring your vineyard back to a standard that is more profitable and will sustain itself over a long period.

Contact Email Address: butts@senet.com.au