Welcome to the blog of Johnathan Grieve.
I am the proprietor of Avondale wine estate, and pioneer of the BioLOGIC® approach to sustainable viticulture. The transformation of Avondale from over-used and abused land into a thriving, robust vineyard ecosystem has been a personal learning journey of more than a decade long. This blog is where I share some of what I have learnt about promoting life on our farm and the wonderful impact this has had on our handcrafted premium quality wines.
Johnathan Grieve
Luna Taste Test – Day 1
At the first tasting yesterday, panel members were unaware of the “day” but the obvious fruitiness of the wines caused them to guess it was a fruit day. Some wanted to see more restraint and minerality, i.e. more “Old World” character and less overt fruitiness, across the line-up, and one or two felt the alcohol was evident on some of the wines.
Biodiversity in Action – The Cape Sugarbird
Biodiversity, the variety of life in an ecosystem, is a tangible measure of the health and balance of a particular habitat. At Avondale, we have been compiling a bird list over the years to chart the re-emergence of species on the farm as we have worked to restore soils and cleanse water naturally, clear invasive aliens and revive the native vegetation.
Fruit vs. Root – Luna Taste Test
Avondale is excited to launch an intriguing experiment in conjunction with Platter’s South African Wine Guide to put the biodynamic lunar tasting calendar to test. The moon, which governs many aspects of biodynamic farming, is believed to play a role in how a wine will be experienced on certain days.
Biodiversity in Action – Bird-Watching at Avondale
Biodiversity, the variety of life in an ecosystem, is a tangible measure of the health and balance of a particular habitat. At Avondale, we have been compiling a bird list over the years to chart the re-emergence of species on the farm as we have worked to restore soils and cleanse water naturally, clear invasive aliens and revive the native vegetation
Sea Solids as Nutrition in the Vineyards
As part of the BioLOGIC® approach we make use of sea solids throughout the seasons to ensure balanced nutrition for our vines. The use of mineral-rich sea solids in agriculture originated from the pioneering work of Dr Maynard Murray, who was a medical doctor researching the importance of minerals, especially trace elements, to plants and animals.
Camera! Lights! Avondale’s Biodiversity in Action!
My father’s project to document the Avondale’s wildlife using a motion-sensitive Reconyx Hyperfire camera in on-going, and always brings us much delight. Last month, he had the camera discreetly set up on a site on the mountain slope for a couple of weeks. I just love these images he captured…
Harvest and the BioLOGIC Approach
The farmer’s role is to foster and take care of the diverse community of life that serves the vine optimally and effortlessly in a healthy, balanced relationship.