As botrytis remains a major headache for Casablanca Valley vineyards, concerned growers are trying out the new Thermal Pest Control (TPC) technology to stop it. While no concrete results are available yet, they remain expectant and optimistic.
Casablanca Valley, near Valparaíso, is one of Chile’s leading wine-producing regions. It is also a place where botrytis doesn’t need rainfall to grow –morning mists are thick enough to drench grape berries just as much.
A Chilean enologist has tested TPC on his vineyards in Chile and Brazil. Results were surprising. The harsher the climate, the more benefits TPC provided.
Back in 2002, when Chilean grower Florencio Lazo first came up with Thermal Pest Control (TPC) –a technology that uses heat blasts to prevent pests and disease in agriculture- he had no inkling about how far and wide his invention would travel. Trials are now being conducted as far afield as New Zealand, Spain and Brazil, with Peru and Argentina in the pipeline.
Wines made from TPC-treated grapes are earning accolades. To wit, Syrah Winemaker Porta 2005, Gold Medal and Trophy winner at the 4th Wines of Chile Awards.
Winemaker Porta 2005, a Syrah made by Viñedos y Bodegas Córpora, took Gold Medal and Trophy at the recent 4th Wines of Chile Awards. What’s truly significant about this is that a key component was treated with Thermal Pest Control (TPC), a clean technology using heat blasts to control pests and disease in agriculture.
“The awards panel included recognized U.S. experts with a long track record, such as Wine & Spirits editor Joshua Green”, enthuses Ana Lorena Salomó, Porta brand enologist at Viñedos y Bodegas Córpora.