Video: visiting Roundstone, the home farm of Mullineux, in South Africa’s Swartland region – intelligent viticulture in action
Jamie Goode and Treve Ring visit Roundstone. It’s the home farm of Mullineux in South Africa’s Swartland wine region. Chris and Andrea Mullineux used to buy grapes from here, but when Analjt Singh invested in their winery they bought the farm in 2014. Chris explains how in the Swartland most of the vineyards are found next to the mountains. They have adapted their viticulture in this dry region by converting existing trellised vines into bush vines. Chris also shows a new 20 hectare planting that that have made that is done with sustainability in mind. Helped by Rosa Kruger, the well known viticulturist, they have planted bush vines in blocks so that they follow the contours and no machinery is needed in these blocks to avoid compaction. They have also devoted parts of the vineyard to the local fynbos plants, to increase biodiversity. This is the new viticulture – smart, sustainable, and good for wine quality.
