Pond bugs signal a clean bill of health for this Victorian vineyard

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Pond bugs signal a clean bill of health for this Victorian vineyard

Once-sickly vines at Mornington Peninsula winery Capella have been nursed back to health – as signalled by the local dam’s thriving pond life.

Introducing organic practices in the vineyard has had a marked effect on the vigour of the wines, says Handpicked winemaker Pete Dillon. Penny Stephens

Max AllenDrinks columnist

Jun 3, 2025 – 5.00am

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Winemaker Pete Dillon and vineyard manager Karl Roberts are standing at the edge of a tree-lined dam peering into a container.

“There’s a water boatman,” says Roberts.

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Max AllenDrinks columnistMax Allen is The Australian Financial Review's drinks columnist. He is an award-winning journalist and author who has written about wine and drinks for close to 25 years.