Grape and wine project update
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) Grape and wine project works in a number of areas along the value chain from vine to glass, to support the profitable growth and development of the Western Australian wine industry.
We work closely with industry to leverage innovative ideas and resources needed to achieve these goals.
In recent years, we have increased our investment in market development to align with industry’s current highest priority, while maintaining our efforts in research, science and innovation which underpins future industry development.
Activities include:
1. Clones for climates
This national project aims to increase our understanding of how clones perform in different climates and how they contribute to wine style, to assist growers' decision making in using the best performing plant material for their current and future climates.
The project evaluates the viticultural and wine sensory attributes of a range of Chardonnay clones (Bernard clones 76, 78, 95, 96, 277; I10V1; I10V5 and Gingin) and Shiraz clones (BVRC 12, 30; SA 1654; PT 15, 23; Tahbilk R6W; SARDI 14, 17; WA selection; Best Great Western Vineyard 1866) in trials on mature vines in different climatic wine regions (Riverland, Grampians, Margaret River, Great Southern, Drumborg, Barossa and Mt Langi Ghiran).
Preliminary results have been presented at the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference in July 2016 (plenary session and workshop), and at various regional tasting workshops in WA and around Australia.
Findings to date indicate: significant differences in wine sensory attributes between clones and regions, within a region there are significant differences between clones in most of the wine sensory attributes and seasonal differences.
Sensory assessment of 2015 Chardonnay wines showed that the clones in the Margaret River and Great Southern regions were grouped and rated higher in overall fruit flavour, floral, confection, tropical fruit aroma, stonefruit aroma, overall aroma and citrus aroma. All Riverland clones rated highly in sweaty/cheesy, flint, savoury/meaty and vegetal attributes. Two clones from Henty rated highly for green flavour and acidity. In the Grampians clones were mainly grouped with higher vegetal aroma, savoury/meaty, sweaty/cheesy, bitter, green flavour acid and astringency attributes.
The 2016 wines are still to be evaluated. The project is expected to be extended another year to make Chardonnay wines. Genomic sequencing of selected Chardonnay clones including Gingin and Mendoza will be conducted.
Australian wine growers are keen to understand more about clones and have indicated their interest in Cabernet Sauvignon clones in future projects.
2. Winemakers’ trial forum
It is important our regions work together to improve viticulture and winemaking skills, to maintain and improve grape and wine quality. The annual WA winemakers’ forum was held to share knowledge and learnings from different viticultural and winemaking trials.
Winemakers who share their trials receive valuable, honest and expert feedback on their wines. Those who attended gain insight into unique viticultural and winemaking techniques.
Each forum will have a different theme. The inaugural forum was held in 2015 with a focus on red wines. The 2016 forum focused on white wines. Nine trials were presented featuring Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Fiano. The forums are held at the Curtin University campus in Margaret River and are limited to 24 tasters. Winemakers from the Geographe, Margaret River, Great Southern and Swan Valley wine regions have attended the forums .
3. Building a pathway to premium wine markets and consumers
Western Australia has built a diverse and innovative wine industry which achieves critical recognition internationally. However, WA is currently achieving low export growth and underperforming compared to peer wine regions. This Wines of WA Royalites for Regions Grower Group R&D project aims to identify the best collaborative path to gain critical mass in key target markets with a clear regional brand to grow exports.
The project undertakes research needed to better inform the industry’s ‘premium wine export market development strategy’.
The four streams are:
- Lessons from peer wine regions
80 successful peer regions from around the world have been evaluated and the best possible lessons for WA wine regions identified. 20 regions were selected for further evaluation and the lessons distilled to determine three regions for in-depth case studies. The results will be discussed at a project workshop in November 2016 to determine the best path forward for Western Australia’s wine regions and producers. - Capacity to supply
The key focus of the capacity to supply work is to build an accurate and timely foundation vineyard and production database for WA wine regions. To achieve this Wines of WA and DAFWA are collaborating with Wine Australia on the VinSites online tool which was pilot launched in Western Australia in September 2016. All the vineyards in Western Australia have detected using satellite technology and mapped on VinSites. 1028 vineyard properties in 9 wine regions and 5 sub regions have been identified. Wine growers are encouraged to register and connect to their vineyards on VinSites now and enter their planting and harvest details. The goal is to have 90% of WA's planted area in the system by December 2016. - Target markets
Market research will identify the best-fit markets for WA wine regions to grow exports. Two or three target markets will be studied in-depth and the best possible collaborative pathway to develop these markets for WA wine regions identified. - Export development officer
An Export development officer will be engaged to drive the implementation of the strategy.
4. Business case for development of the WA premium wine industry
A key goal of the WA wine industry is to more than double the value of exports. Significant export market growth opportunities have been identified for WA premium wine. The growing international demand for premium products fits the WA’s industry profile well.
Although WA has built a diverse and innovative industry that is achieving critical recognition internationally we have not taken full advantage of the export development opportunities, or developed enough capability to serve these export markets. The industry has a ‘premium wine export market development strategy’ for a path forward to achieve success in exports.
A joint initiative by Wines of WA and DAFWA to develop a business case for the strategy to drive investment in, and export opportunity from, the WA premium wine industry will commence in November 2016. The business case will also look at the opportunity for a new approach to the delivery of industry driven research and innovation for future industry development. It will be a facilitated process with extensive stakeholder engagement and industry consultation.
The final business case will be presented to industry and government for co-investment.
5. Target market opportunities in Asia
DAFWA commissioned an independent report on the target market opportunities in Asia and the Middle East for Western Australian premium food & beverage products. Exciting high growth opportunities were identified for high value premium products that Asian consumers want and Western Australian does or can produce.
The study evaluated nearly 700 products in nine broad categories: beverages, processed food, dairy & eggs, fresh horticulture produce, seafood, meat, oilseeds/oils & fats, animal food & feed, and grains. Premium wine was a high priority in the Top 20 products with the greatest ‘opportunities to increase exports’. The report identified a $50 million growth opportunity for WA wine in Asia over the next 5 years. The ‘scorecard’ developed for WA premium wine in these target markets provides a snapshot of the size of the opportunity, drivers of consumer and market success, market trends and competitors, WA’s unique value proposition, industry’s challenges and limitations and what levers we have to create value.
Premium products were defined by four broad attributes: health, provenance, indulgence and convenience. Western Australia’s key competitive advantage was the 'Story of our Provenance' built on people/skills; location; quality; clean and green; and safety.