Episode Details

Extreme weather events can be devastating to a winegrowing region's infrastructure, business, and in the worst-case scenarios, human life. Emma Taylor, Viticulture Consultant with Emma Taylor Viti is part of New Zealand's Cyclone Gabrielle recovery team, helping winegrape farmers in the Hawke's Bay region.

When the cyclone hit in February 2023 just before grape harvest, flood waters reached over the top of many vineyards destroying bridges, leaving behind massive silt deposits, uprooting entire plantings, and cutting off power for one week. Growers had to evaluate how to handle their losses based on total damage, potential fruit contamination, and vineyard lifespan. A vital component of the recovery effort is the knowledge and experience of viticulturists who farmed in the region during Cyclone Bola in 1988.

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• 103: Environmental, Social, & Governance Initiative in Spain's Priorat Region
• 117: Grapevine Mildew Control with UV Light
• Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund
• Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola)
• Emma Taylor on LinkedIn
• Hawke's Bay Wine New Zealand
• How lessons learned from Cyclone Bola can help deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle

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Craig Macmillan 0:00

And with us today is Emma Taylor. She is viticultural consultant with Emma Taylor Viti in New Zealand. And today we're going to be talking about the terrible impacts that cyclone Gabrielle had on the North Island of New Zealand. And thank you for being your guests taking time and shari