I am learning, applying and testing new and established sustainable and organic viticultural practices.

  • A small white building with the words 'Kapitel Zwei Wine' painted on it. There are solar panels in front of the building and some yellow and green vine leaves climbing up the wall. To the right, there's a portable generator on a bench.

    Solar Energy

    All of my tools and equipment, from the auger to dig holes to the water pump, are powered by the sun. I collect the sun’s energy and store it on a 1000W Jackery Solar Generator.

  • A snail with a brown shell and textured body moving over dark soil and green ground cover plants.

    Green Cover

    Instead of adding chemicals to improve the mineral content of my soil I am using red clover (crimson clover). It’s a unique plant which converts nitrogen from the air into nitrates for the vines — essential for healthy grapes.

  • Banana Peel Biofertilizer

    Banana Peel Biofertilizer

    I am testing a hypothesis that organic banana peels, in both a solid and liquid form, can improve vine vigor and add vital plant nutrients to the soil. The results were published in my thesis.

  • Animal bones buried in a dirt hole surrounded by soil, leaves, and snow.

    Biodynamic

    The 500P is a biodynamic technique for fertilizing and soil conditioning. The cow horns are stuffed with dung, buried for six months and then dug up. The compost is then mixed with water and sprayed on the soil to improve microorganism populations.

  • A field of pink flowers with green foliage and support posts, overlooking a distant landscape under a blue sky.

    Recycled Plastic Trellis Poles

    Sourced from Germany, the trellis system is built with 200 cm, 13 kg recycled plastic poles, which are weather-resistant and rot-proof.

  • Rainwater Collection

    Rainwater Collection

    In the rare chance that I have to irrigate I am collecting rainwater from the roof and storing it in an underground cistern below the vineyard.