Protecting Premium Produce! Waratah Exclusion Fencing at Dalwhinnie and Taltarni Vineyards

In the heart of Victoria’s Pyrenees wine region, vineyard managers Sam Bartlett of Dalwhinnie and Barry Morris, of Taltarni have taken a proactive step to protect their high-value crops. 

They understand the importance of protecting young growing vines from animals, as damage from pests can make vines become non-productive for many years, drastically affecting their bottom line. Choosing the right fencing design isn’t just important, it’s critical to protecting their business. We spoke with both Sam and Barry to hear why they chose Waratah to safeguard their investment.  

In total, approximately 12km of exclusion fencing was constructed, with sections completed by the vineyard teams themselves and our local Waratah rep providing much appreciated support with the fence design and budget. The fence design consisted of 2.4m JiO® Star Posts for a reliable and strong structure, 15/150/15 Stocksafe-T® along with two plain Longlife® Blue wires above for a total 1.8m approximate height. Using the Waratah fencing system creates an effective barrier against feral animals and protects those all-important young vines.   

When discussing the cost benefits of choosing Waratah, Sam and Barry estimate that they have lost approximately 20% annually to feral animals destroying their yield. The value of the fence including site preparation and contractor costs around $20 per meter, offering an impressive return over time. Both vineyards sell bottles of wine anywhere up to $200 a bottle, meaning the fence pays for itself in a very short space of time.   

We asked Sam and Barry why they chose Waratah specifically for exclusion, they said they only ever considered using Waratah due to great success using Gripfast® posts and Growire® in the vineyard, “we knew that we were only going to get a quality product”.   

The vineyard managers also praised the speed and convenience of Waratah JiO clips, which make repairing unexpected damage fast and straightforward. JiO® Clips are simple and easy to use by securing fence wires on JiO Posts by clipping them in. Having previously had issues with large trees falling on their fences, they were able to quickly clip the wire back on with Waratah JiO clips meaning less costs for repair.

For Dalwhinnie and Taltarni, the new Waratah Exclusion Fence is a safeguard for their livelihood and a testament to the value of investing in quality Australian-made materials that stand the test of time.