Pick of the crop for Glenkara Vineyards at Landsborough in the Pyrenees is a new fleet of five Landini Vision 95 tractors. Operations Manager, Steve Pellegrino, explained that they needed a narrow tractor to run the 2.7 metre rows but small cabs in the old vineyard tractors made it a struggle for the operator.  They wanted machines with comfort, space and lots of visibility.  The size of the 750 acre property also made an upgrade necessary. 

“We need a fair amount of horsepower to pull the 2000 litre double overhead spray units that weigh well in excess of 2 tonnes each,” he said.  “And we knew a bigger more powerful tractor would increase operator safety factors too.”

Vineyard Manager, Tony Marshall, said the service they received from Landini Tractors and dealers Echuca TMV in Northen Victoria was sensational.

“Derek Mower, Landini Area Manager, brought a Vision 95 out to the vineyard to demonstrate its capabilities.  Lou Iannacone of Echuca TMV (tractors, machinery, viticulture) handles all the servicing requirements and customised the machines for us.”

The 750 acre vineyard was planted in 1998 and the first grapes were harvested four years after that.  Soils varied from clay to sandy loam with good drainage, direct irrigation “and stacks of sunshine”, Tony said. 

The property holds 380Ml of water in dams and also pumps from the Wimmera River on allocation.

Glenkara expect to surpass 1000 tonnes this year, with shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese and barbera varieties.  The grapes are sold to winemakers at Brown Brothers, Fosters, Mt Langighiran and Massoni.

Steve said his operators were initially apprehensive at the thought of bigger tractors but they are very happy now.  Flat floors in the Vision 95 gave them more cabin room.  They sat higher and with the window wrapped all the way round, operators could look over the top of the vines and see the sprayers.  The extra power boost of 95hp made all the difference when it came to covering the acres and getting the work done, with under-vine and canopy sprays, mowing, ripping, and harvesting.

“We go for quality every time,” Steve said.  “Top quality ensures our contracts.  It means our operators are happy, the people we supply fruit to are happy, and so are the wine-drinkers out there.

Best year?

“2004 – 2005,” he said.

Best grape?

“The cabernet sauvignon is very, very good this season.”

Best tractor?

“Landini.  Definitely Landini.”