Argentines are turning their backs on wine

 

Argentina's wine industry is collapsing. Some 1,100 vineyards have shut down across the country and 3,276 hectares (8,095 acres) of grape production have vanished. People in Argentina are drinking a fraction of what they used to drink, and the young people are not picking up the slack. Moreover, the export market is collapsing as younger people drink much less than people used to. If they do drink wine, they are choosing lighter wines so the old formulations are no longer relevant. 

These trends are going to affect markets beyond Argentina and appelation controllé regions are going to have to make changes in their control of vintages. 

Fine weather

 

We've had a glorious run of good weather for several days and a couple more to come. Yesterday, we had a high of 14C and a low of 5C. Friday was even warmer. Alex took the opportunity to spray the vines with an organic substance recommended by Andrew Watson that protects against mildew. It's called Curenox, and it is applied as a spray diluted to Usage 2.5-3g/L.

Curenox (specifically Curenox 50 WP) is a copper-based, wettable powder fungicide and bactericide used to control diseases like late blight, downy mildew, and leaf spots on vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals. It acts as a preventative by disrupting the enzyme systems of spores, is approved for organic farming, and is applied at 1-2 kg/Ha.

Key Details About Curenox:

• Active Ingredient: Contains 50% metallic copper in the form of copper oxychloride.
• Usage: Effective against early blight, late blight, downy mildew, rust, and bacterial diseases.
• Target Crops: Potatoes, tomatoes, fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry), and ornamental plants.
• Application: Generally applied at a dosage of 1-2 kg/Ha, typically with a 7–10 day spray interval.
• Precaution: It is very toxic to aquatic life and should be handled with care, keeping it away from food and animal feed. 

National Agrochemical Distributors Ltd.

Curenox works as a protective contact fungicide, meaning it should be applied before disease symptoms appear.

Meanwhile, the warm weather has caused tremendous changes in the polytunnel over the weekend. Alex left one door open and it was still very warm inside. All the vines have leafed, and we have an early asparagus crop (4 stalks), lots of broccoli, and the Rockit apple is blooming profusely. I love it. 

Happy St Patrick's Day!

 

Yellow clover (Trifolium dubium) is the shamrock associated with Ireland. Not the four-leafed clover that is associated with luck. The shamrock is a delicate three-leafed plant and said to represent the Holy Trinity, which is why it was associated with St Patrick. He used it to explain how the father, son and holy ghost are all one being. 

We have multiple three-leafed and four-leafed plants growing in Ireland, including Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), white clover (Trifolium repens), and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). 

Meanwhile, in the polytunnel, everything is coming to life. 

Ross House Buckland Sweetwater

Foxford Muscat de Hamburg

Westport convent Black Hamburg

Rockitt apple blooming

Cold snap

 

After three days of gale and torrential rain and sleet, we woke up this morning to a snow-capped Croagh Patrick. Some lovely sunshine and cool temps, but perhaps an end to the rain. The daffodils took a beating but fortunately the buds have remained dormant on the vines. 

Thunder and lightning

 

We drove down to Galway in mixed wintry weather. Sleet and hail, black skies, torrential rain showers. We were staying overnight because I had carpal tunnel surgery scheduled for the morning. It's a good thing we did, because several of the scheduled surgery patients didn't make it on time. Since I was there and ready early, I was slotted in at 9:30. Prep at 9:00. 

In the surgical unit, I learned from the nurses that the overnight storms were vicious —howling winds, thunder that rolled on forever, and cracks of lightning—fairly rare here. I slept through it all. You can see that it was concentrated over Connemara. Although Mayo had a fair bit of wind, Galway got the brunt of the rain. Thunder and lightning, very, very frightening, they said. 

Hopefully, the surgery was successful, but there's no working in the vineyard or the garden for several weeks.  

Blustery days in Mayo

 

We've had a blustery two days in  Mayo. Wet a good deal of the time, and now about to get quite cold this afternoon. St Patrick's weekend may be a challenge. It has been rather dark and dreary and not at all conducive to gardening. 

I have carpal tunnel surgery tomorrow, so I will be out of commission for a couple of weeks. A good excuse to sit around reading books. 

Polytunnel News

 

It was a beautiful morning yesterday, and I spent it working in the polytunnel. So much going on. The apple, peach and nectarine trees are leafing brightly. An aeonium is blooming profusely. Seeds are sprouting throughout. And several of the vines have bud break. How exciting!

It's so nice to have our own decomposed donkey manure and a fabulous bin of garden waste compost. It feels rich. I finally planted my little dahlia bed. Trying to emulate the Victorians. Grapes for every purpose and flowers for the eyes. 

Stunning Aeonium flower

Ross House white dessert grape, possibly Sweetwater

Albarino

Black Hamburg

New dahlia planter

Luscious donkey poo

Fab compost