Beyond our world-class wines, we are also actively engaged in undertaking innovative research projects in our organic vineyards and winemaking technologies. These have benefited not only us, but the entire organic viticulture and wine industry.
Organic Viticulture Research
Organic vineyards are the ecosystems of enormous research potential due to the close interaction of various biotic and abiotic factors within them. Amending organic products like manures, winery and viticulture by-products to the soil in the vineyards, coupled with best crop-management practices greatly help in vineyard sustainability.
We have successfully completed several research projects:
- 2014: Use of Humic acid as foliar nutrition in organic vineyards. (IAF, BC)
- 2013. Promoting Vineyard Sustainability through Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Funded through Engage Grants –NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) in collaboration with Dr. Hart, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Kelowna.
- 2012. Online knowledge hub development (www.eviticulturebc.org) in association with the OSDP Project (Organic Sector Development program managed by Certified Organic Association of BC).
- 2012. Nutrition Management in Organic Vineyards in association with the OSDP Project (Organic Sector Development program managed by Certified Organic Association of BC).
Winemaking Technologies
We have undertaken several in-house funded research projects on understanding the roles of various yeasts, yeast nutrients, and other organic supplements in our fermentation technologies. The ideas behind these projects were to express the true varietal characteristics imparting flavor and aroma in our wines.
We have developed cost-effective technology in recovering high-quality wines from lees. In a recently completed project, we have also developed wines using non-Saccharomyces, a wild yeast species.
At Kalala, our philosophy is continuous improvement. We welcome your comments and suggestions about potential projects or areas for further research.
“There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain…”