Irritating Irrigating
As well as being particularly prone to a late frost, Meadowbank’s Glenora vineyard also experiences higher than average summer temperatures – generally around 2 degrees hotter than Hobart. When a heat-wave is looming it is essential that we irrigate the vines – it helps them regulate their temperature and stops the plants shutting down.
So when the mercury began its climb to 42 degrees on Monday, getting the drippers going was top priority. While there is no shortage of water at Glenora with the ever-flowing Derwent River bordering the property, we do have to get it on the vines somehow. And just as too much heat is bad for vines, it’s bad for irrigation pumps too.
The electric pump was the first to go. The sparkie arrived and declared that the motor was drawing too much current and would have to be replaced. Luckily, after a similar occurrence a few years ago Gerald had the presence of mind to buy a spare pump ‘just in case’ it happened again. All they needed to do was to fit the thing. In full sun. On the hottest day of the year.
So in the meantime Gerald fired up the diesel pump linked to the frost protection system- not the most efficient way to water, but a useful stop-gap while the motor was being changed.
Then the diesel cut out.
When the swearing eventually ceased, the electric pump was fixed and the vintage was saved. A swim in the river was next on the to-do list, a swill at the keg the last.