Friday 22nd September 2006

9.30 a.m

Back in the classroom for the morning theory session. More mathematical equations and scientific formulas. The most interesting part was about pest management. Its a wonder wine ever gets made so vicious are the forces of nature stacked up against it. The accompanying slide show was of Hammer Horror proportions. 'This is a dagger nematode' Chris said pointing to a particularly ugly worm on the screen and this cue Beethoven's fifth, pale of lightning is 'Phylloxera' Oh how those 4 syllables must have struck terror into European winemakers in the late 1800s. Having hitched a ride over on some vine cuttings from America, where the vines were resistant to it by some intrepid British Botanists, Phylloxera began its blitzkrieg across Europe, laying waste to everything in front of it. It took years and many ruined businesses before it was stopped in its tracks by grafting European grape varieties onto resistant American rootstock. Its still around today but thanks to effective pest management largely tamed. The list seemed endless. If the bugs don't get you, then there are the diseases. If they're not enough to put you off then there are the animals and the weeds. Of course all this could be managed using the proper techniques but I couldn't help thinking back to my one and only attempt at growing anything. The ill fated allotment which was infested by Bindweed. So bad was it that I practically napalmed the plot with weed killer, killing virtually every living organism in the process.

Ah well! at least the theory was over. As dark clouds began to circle overhead the afternoon promised to be more fun with a demonstration of vineyard equipment and a spin in a tractor.