The Passing Clouds Musk Estate vineyard is on a very cool site with a top elevation of 742m above sea level. It is north facing with volcanic soils. The modified wide T trellis gives good penetration of sunlight and wind, reducing disease pressure and increasing vine balance and its ability to ripen the fruit evenly. The vineyard is managed according to regenerative agricultural practices. This is a way of farming using a set of principles that enrich soils and increase their carbon storage capacity dramatically, increase biodiversity, improve the water cycle and enhance the overall ecosystem of the farm. The vineyard is spur-pruned by hand to two buds per spur, reducing yield and controlling vine vigour. Further shoot thinning and defoliation occurs later in the season again by hand to allow further sunlight penetration and maximising air flow around the bunches.
