The 777 clone of Pinot Noir at Tussie Mussie Vineyard behaves quite differently from the older fashioned clones we know. In addition, the vines are grafted to a Phylloxera resistant rootstock which adds another influence.
The vines are only moderately vigorous however tend to set 2 bunches of heavy fruit on each shoot.
Because the Peninsula can experience poor set, we wait until the vines have set the flowers before we start to remove some of the crop. It’s a young vineyard, and suits a heavier crop, too small a load encourages wasteful and reductive vigour. The vines are pruned to a single arch, so that there is plenty of light and space around each bunch. The vineyard is now managed organically although there is no certification until years of organic management. Under vine weed management is now possible with a Fischer Twister and organic herbicide.
