Wine Industry Newsletter

Updated Viticulture Spray Guide now available

The 2017/18 Viticulture Spray Guide is now available

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Viticulture Spray Guide has been updated for the 2017/18 season and is now available to download.

The guide is a valuable resource for Western Australian wine and table grape producers and continues to be provided free of charge to industry.

The guide was developed from an industry need for a single reference detailing agrochemicals permitted to manage pests and disease in Western Australian vineyards. The department has been producing this guide since 2001.

Content includes:

  • pesticide safety and regulation
  • pesticide resistance
  • spray options for:
    • diseases
    • insects, mites and molluscs
    • herbicides
    • plant growth regulators
  • pest monitoring and treatment calendar.

The 2017/18 edition will continue to be updated throughout the season when applicable.

Other features include:

  • downloadable directly from the department’s website
  • searchable content
  • numerous links to additional information and external websites

To access and download the new guide, visit the Viticulture Spray Guide page.

Clones and alternative varieties bottled

Research Officer Richard Fennessy is looking forward to presenting wines bottled in 2017

Over 300 bottles of wines from two key research projects have recently been bottled at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Bunbury wine laboratory.

Grape and Wine Research Officer Richard Fennessy who oversaw this year’s bottling said that some of the wines were a continuation of the project ‘Assessing clonal variability in Chardonnay and Shiraz for future climate change’.

This year focused on Chardonnay clones grown in Margaret River and the Great Southern wine regions.

These clones will undergo formal sensory assessment by the Australian Wine Research Institute later in 2017.

Western Australian grape growers and winemakers will also have the opportunity to taste and compare these clones in a number of workshops over the coming months (keep an eye on the Future events section at the end of the Wine Industry Newsletter).

The second project that bottled was the ‘Evaluation and demonstration of alternative varieties’.  

This project utilises an evaluation block of 21 varieties established in 2012 at the Harvey Campus of the WA College of Agriculture.

With the assistance of the students at the college, 13 varieties were harvested and 15 wines were made (two varieties were made into a rosé and red table wine).

Winemaking  techniques  employed  to maximise unique varietal expression include yeast strain selection, skin contact, fermentation temperature, oak and time on lees.

Table 1 summarises the varieties that were harvested in 2017. 

Table 1 Alternative varieties made in 2017
Variety Style Region Origin
Vermentino White Geographe Italy

Fiano

White Geographe Italy

Savagnin

White Geographe France

Pignoletto

White Geographe Italy

Arneis

White Geographe Italy

Scheurebe

White Geographe Germany

Gruner Veltliner

White Manjimup Austria
Dolcetto Rose Geographe Italy

Sciacarello

Rose Geographe Corsica

Dolcetto

Red Geographe Italy

Sciacarello

Red Geographe Corsica

Graciano

Red Geographe Spain
Tannat Red Geographe France

Saperavi

Red Geographe Georgia
Carmenere Red Geographe France

These wines will be formally assessed by the Geographe Wine Show judging panel in late September 2017.

Regional associations have been invited to provide an Expression of Interest for Richard to present the wines in various regions. If you are interested in trying these varieties, please contact your regional association.

In January 2018, a field walk will be held at the Harvey evaluation block where producers will have the opportunity to view the vines and taste the wines.  Details will be provided closer to the date.

Cabernet genomic project – sensory findings

The Cabernet genomic project sought to determine the DNA sequence of 12 clones of Cabernet Sauvignon widely planted in Australia

Introduction

In 2014, the Western Australian wine industry secured a collaboration with Yalumba Nurseries and the Australian Wine Research Institute for a national project on clonal variation in wine grapes, led by the then Department of Agriculture and Food and the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Many important fruit crops, including grapevines, use vegetative propagation (cloning) to replant and expand plantings.

In the wine industry, the same flagship varieties have been commercially produced for centuries.  

This remarkable feature of the wine industry creates both problems and opportunities. While cloning perpetuates the variety and its marketable and/or agronomic qualities, somatic mutations arise spontaneously and accumulate with time through generations, resulting in phenotypic and agronomic differences and the creation of new clones, and ultimately new cultivars or trademarked clones.

Each mutation may be small – one single nucleotide – or large – a chromosome rearrangement or transposition of segments of a chromosome, including to other chromosomes.

Currently, there are no efficient means of selection, identification and assurance of novel clones.

The Cabernet genomic project sought to determine the DNA sequence of 12 clones of Cabernet Sauvignon widely planted in Australia, and identify DNA variants that can be used to develop markers, and lead research toward understanding the genetic basis of quality differences between clones.

The potential impact of this research is enormous, as currently many vineyards have little or no documentation of which clone or clones populate their vineyards. Being able to fingerprint and map the identity of a vineyard is just one opportunity. Being able to understand wine quality differences is another, which established the winemaking trials presented here, led by Research Officer Richard Fennessy.

Background

One of major populations of clones most interesting to the Western Australian industry is the ‘Houghton’ selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, initially established in the mid-late 1960s by the then Department of Agriculture and Food and Houghton Wines (Ian Cameron and Dorham Mann).

Individual vines were selected from the Swan Valley Houghton Vineyard (believed to have arrived in Australia from Cape Horn, South Africa) on the basis of ripening, yield and berry characters.

A selection of 20 or so were planted in foundation blocks in Gingin and the Great Southern for bulking up the vines.  These vines were the major source of the early plantings in Margaret River and Great Southern vineyards in the 1970s. Many are still in production.

Although it was quite common to plant ‘mass selections’ of the Houghton clones, i.e. a mixture of the top ~20, some vineyards established trials of individual clones. One of those was Gralyn Vineyard in Margaret River.

In the early 1970s, Gralyn was planted with one row each of Houghton #5, #13, #16 and SA126, which was sourced from South Australia and was the preferred clone from the late 1970s.

Since 2014, the Department of Agriculture and Food (now the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) have been collecting a range of field data from these rows and making small-lot batches of wine.

Unfortunately, records of which row was which clone were lost, however the genomics side of the project sought to establish their identity. Combined, this sensory analysis would provide a foundation for industry to re-capture the heritage of the Houghton clones.

Sensory analysis

Wines were made over three consecutive vintages and the winemaking protocol was consistent between years.

The wines were assessed on three occasions and conducted by a panel of 21, 28 and seven assessors, respectively in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

There were four sensory categories assessed: Aroma, Flavour, Tannins and Palate. Each category had different attributes assessed on an intensity scale in the range of 0-9.

The aroma‘s attributes included:  raspberry, cherry, cassis, currant, spice, vegetative and overall score.

Similarly, the flavour‘s attributes included: raspberry, cherry, cassis, currant, spice, plum, chocolate and overall score.

The palate had four attributes: weight, fruit sweetness, texture and length.

The tannins were assessed on presence/absence of the attributes soft, fine, powdery, drying, grippy and green. There was also an overall score out of 20.

The whole set of data, including all three years,  was analysed using Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) where each attribute for each category (Aroma, Flavour, Palate) was separately fitted as a response variable.

Overall the results from the analyses did not indicate many attributes with a significant difference between the clones. This does not necessarily indicate similarity of the clones, it may be attributed to other factors such as lack of training of the assessors or limitation due to design (lack of replication).

There were only two categories, aroma and flavour, where a significant difference between the clones for some of the attributes was observed as shown in Table1.  Raspberry was significant for both categories, while cassis was significant only for aroma, and currant and spice only for flavour.

Attribute vegetative, typical only for aroma, was also significant. Attribute currant in aroma was on the border of significance, P-value of 0.07.

Table 1 Significance (P-value) of the treatment effect for the whole dataset
Category Attribute P-value
Aroma Raspberry 0.005
Aroma Cassis 0.020
Aroma Vegetative 0.006
Flavour Raspberry 0.040
Flavour Currant 0.032
Flavour Spice 0.002

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the sum of the combined years of sensory data expressing intensity aroma and flavour attributes respectively.

Figure 1 Aroma intensities
Figure 2 Flavour intensities

Observations by clone

Row five

  • Scored significantly higher in cassis aroma than rows six, seven and eight.
  • scored significantly lower in raspberry aroma than row seven (highest) and significantly lower in  vegetative aroma and spice flavour than row six (highest).

Therefore this clone shows high cassis aroma with low vegetal notes and spice flavour.

Row six

  • Scored significantly higher in currant aroma and flavour than row seven.
  • Vegetal aroma and spice flavour scored the highest against the other clones.

This clone can be described as having dark fruit characters with spicy notes and varietal vegetal aroma.

Row seven

  • Scored significantly higher than rows five and six for raspberry aroma and higher than row six for raspberry flavour.
  • Scored significantly lower in cassis aroma than row five; currant aroma, vegetative aroma, currant flavour and spice flavour than row six.

Overall this clone appears to be dominated by red fruit characters.

Row eight

  • Significantly lower in vegetative aroma and spice flavour than row six.

Overall this clone didn’t express dominance in any of the attributes, so unable to give a generalised description.

Conclusion

Now that these sensory data sets are compiled, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and UWA are working hard to resolve the genetic identity, so the information can be integrated.

In addition to identity, the genomic research will begin to identify any DNA variation in genes known to determine some of the sensory characters described and build an understanding of ‘genes to wine’.

Garden weevil soft controls demonstrations

Adult garden weevils

A number of vignerons in the Margaret River and Great Southern wine regions investigated different soft options to manage garden weevil during the 2016/17 season.

This activity received support from the Regional Program of Wine Australia in collaboration with Wines of Western Australia and its' technical committee.

Six vineyards in the Margaret River and Frankland regions participated and met separately in their own region at the start of the activity in August 2016 and then jointly in Manjimup, the geographic half way point, for the review session in July 2017.

The ranges of novel approaches to weevil management assessed were:

  • potassium silicate applied to the canopy
  • a biological mixture in development (Matrix and Sophter) applied to the canopy
  • the role of vineyard floor plants on weevil distribution and abundance
  • the insect fungal mix Mycoforce™ incorporated in the soil
  • trunk wrap exclusion bands of Dacron
  • refined clay e.g. Surround® applied to the canopy
  • cultivation to potentially control the soil borne life stages of garden weevil.

The only conclusive result was that the Dacron bands (especially when fluffed up) provided a deterrence to weevil accessing the vine canopy.

Unfortunately 2016/17 wasn’t particularly bad for garden weevil, so the abundance was too low to assess other methods.

Vignerons enjoyed exchanging management techniques of what they regard as a key pest and are keen to move away from synthetic insecticides, which are effective but their longevity and continued reliance  is questionable.

Vignerons were enthusiastic to continue their investigations for another season to determine whether the reliance on broad spectrum insecticides can be reduced. Some of these options were investigated in small lot work some years ago  when a research project on garden weevil was undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food. This new work involves the same products, plus some new ones on a larger scale.

Results of the investigations will be presented at workshops in both regions after the 2018 vintage.

For more information contact Stewart Learmonth, Senior Research Officer on +61 (0)8 9777 0167 or Alison Mathews, Development Officer on +61 (0)8 9777 0122

International Downy and Powdery workshop

 Plant Pathologist Andrew Taylor presenting a poster of his studies at the International Downy and Powdery Workshop

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s plant pathologist, Andrew Taylor, presented at the eighth International Downy and Powdery workshop held in Corvallis, Oregon USA , 17-19 July 2017.

Andrew presented an insight into his ongoing PhD studies on grape downy mildew and some findings he has made to date. He also used the opportunity to learn more about how other countries and regions manage these economically important diseases.

The workshop was attended by researchers and industry representatives from America, Europe and Australia.

Presentations focussed on a number of areas including disease management, fungicide resistance, population studies and host resistance.

Disease management is of particular interest for European researchers as it has been legislated that a more sustainable approach for pesticide usage is required in European vineyards.

A tour of vineyards in the Willamette Valley followed two days of presentations and provided attendees an opportunity to view how production systems operate in Oregon.

Many of the vineyards are heavily influenced by French production systems and this often means very narrow row spacings, some as small as 1m by 1m. This presents different challenges in terms of mechanisation, how to get a tractor small enough to fit down the rows, as well as issues it creates in terms of disease pressure.

Cellar door sales are important for the Oregon industry and some vineyards have included unusual attractions in order to boost visitor numbers.

A full size 747 plane converted to a water slide attracts visitors to the Spruce Goose vineyard

 

Whilst in Oregon Andrew collected DNA samples of downy mildew for comparison as part of his genetic work in Australia which will be completed early in 2018.

The workshop also provided the chance to meet fellow researchers and the potential for collaborations that will help the WA viticulture industry deal with two of the most economically impactful diseases in Australia.      

The travel was supported by Wine Australia and Murdoch University travel grants.   

For more information contact Andrew Taylor, Research Officer on +61 (0)8 9780 6241

Are you really biosecurity prepared?

Senior Research Officer Stewart Learmonth inspects vines

With the recent detection of Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus in Australia for the first time and notification of the expansion of the Maroondah Phylloxera Infested Zone in Victoria, biosecurity issues are closer to home for grape growers more than ever.

On top of this is the recent incursion of the Tomato Potato Psyllid that has significantly affected the operations of fellow farmers.

With the start of the new growing season, biosecurity should be at the forefront of all grape growers’ minds.

To assist the viticulture industry build better biosecurity knowledge and preparedness, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has recently published the Western Australian Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Manual.

The manual provides specific information on the priority pest threats identified in the Western Australian Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Plan (released in December 2016), as well as advice on improving biosecurity on farm.

The information provided on the pest threats includes the likely impact to growers and industry, what to look for and some management options that have been used where the pest occurs.

With the start of the new growing season, growers are urged to familiarise themselves with the priority pest threats and include them in general surveillance activities within the vineyard and surrounding areas.

Pest surveillance should be a routine practice for all growers and reporting of pests should be a part of this routine.

Western Australian grape growers are in the privileged position of having a mobile field pest identification aid tool in MyPestGuide Grapes to assist with initial field identification of pests. However, accurate identification of pests is essential for efficient management and monitoring of pest activity.

MyPestGuide Reporter provides a fast and simple way of reporting pest occurrences along with an expert confirmation of identification.

The manual is the latest tool developed for the viticulture industry in Western Australia to increase biosecurity capacity and preparedness.

The manual was developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in consultation with the viticulture industry in Western Australia and was made possible by Royalties for Regions funding.

For more information contact Alec McCarthy, Development Officer on +61 (0)8 9780 6273.

Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus

Chlorotic mottling and deformation of Pinot Gris grapevine leaves, symptoms of grapevine Pinot Gris virus (Photo courtesy of Pasquale Saldarelli - University of Bari).

For the first time Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus (GPGV) has been detected in Australia. This virus has been reported in a number of countries including Europe, USA, Canada and China.

Not to be misled by its name, GPGV has been reported in at least 28 separate wine and table grape varieties including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

A recent study detected samples from New South Wales and South Australia that tested positive for GPGV. The positive vines have been destroyed and trace back investigations conducted. Further survey work will be conducted in NSW and SA.

At this point there is no known connection to Western Australia. As a result there are currently no plans to carry out any formal surveillance for GPGV in WA.

Growers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of GPGV infection.  These include delayed budburst, leaf distortion and mottling, shortened internodes, increased berry acidity and yield loss.

The leaf distortion and mottling symptoms are most obvious in spring. It is also important to note that infection may not cause any obvious symptoms. See the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) Fact Sheet - Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus for more information.

GPGV is still categorised as an exotic plant pest and therefore, it is important that:

  • You promptly call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881) or make a report using MyPestGuide Reporter if you observe symptoms in grapevines similar to that described above.
  • If you are planting a new vineyard, you speak to your supplier of propagation material to determine virus status of the material.
  • If you are undertaking top-working of existing vines, you determine the virus status of both the rootstock (existing vine) and the budwood for grafting.
  • You should be vigilant and observant at all times when moving about your vineyard and investigate and report anything unusual.

The biosecurity tools MyPestGuide Grapes and MyPestGuide Reporter are useful tools to help you identify and report pest issues.

Wine Industry Leadership Role

Wines of Western Australia logo

Independent Chair

The Australian wine industry is entering an exciting stage of development.

The Federal Government will provide $50 million from 2017 - 2020 to grow wine export and regional wine tourism.

To ensure the fine wine Regions of Western Australia take full advantage of this opportunity, the State industry association, Wines of WA, requires the leadership of an Independent Chair.

Wines of WA (WoWA) provides advocacy, representation and support services for the state's fine wine Regions and over 400 growers and producers.

The Independent Chair will provide leadership in implementing the industry's 10-year strategic plan, working with the WoWA Board, CEO and Regional Associations on four key areas of strategic focus:

1. Growing consumer and market demand

2. Advocating for a simpler and fairer wine taxation system

3. Leadership and communication

4. Industry Innovation and Development

The WA Wine Industry Strategic Plan 2014-24 can be viewed here.

Preferred experience and skills include:

  • Strong understanding of regional development processes
  • Background in or understanding of regionally based high value primary industries and preferably wine and grape growing
  • Relationships and skills to assist advocacy at state and federal level
  • Sound knowledge of corporate governance/compliance requirements
  • Effective and persuasive communication skills
  • Previous experience as Chair of an industry association

Position description:

  • Provide leadership, direction and guidance to the WoWA Board and CEO to achieve strategic aims
  • Chair all Board meetings and relevant committee meetings
  • Further develop industry relationships at regional, state and federal government level
  • Working with the CEO, implement effective communications with Regional Associations, growers and producers and all stakeholders and partners in regional development
  • Develop and implement best practice governance/compliance processes

It is expected that a minimum of three days per month will be required. A remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

To apply, forward CV and cover letter outlining relevant experience to ceo@winewa.asn.au

Future events

Alternative varieties tasting – Mount Barker

During the 2016/17 season the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been undertaking an evaluation and demonstration of a collection of alternative varieties grown at the WA College of Agriculture – Harvey.

Funding made available through the Wine Australia Regional Program has enabled researchers to collect viticultural data and make wine from 13 different varieties this season.

Utilising commercial techniques (i.e. yeast selection, oak, fermentation temperature, skin contact etc.) on small scale volumes, these wines enable producers to gain insight into their characteristics and suitability to local conditions.

Join Research Officer Richard Fennessy to taste 15 wines (some varieties have been made in multiple styles) and hear how the varieties performed.

Some of the varieties to be tasted include Grüner Veltliner, Vermentino, Saperavi, Dolcetto and Graciano.

When: 9.30am – 11.30am Tuesday 24 October 2017

Where: West Cape Howe, Art House, Mount Barker

Cost: Free

Registration: Spaces are limited due to venue capacity, RSVP to Richard Fennessy on +61 (0)8 9780 6219

Swan Valley Winemakers’ Trial Tasting

Winemakers regularly experiment with different techniques in the vineyard and winery.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is hosting an upcoming event where winemakers can taste other winemakers’ trial wines produced from various experiments, focused on improving wine quality and production efficiencies.

This event features Corrina Wright from Oliver’s Taranga as a guest speaker to give insight into innovative practices from McLaren Vale.

The theme of the tasting will be focused on Shiraz, Grenache and Verdelho.

Winemakers interested in contributing trial wines to present on the day are asked to contact Research Officer Richard Fennessy on +61 (0)8 97 80 6219 .

When: 1.30pm – 4.00pm Friday 3 November 2017

Where: Sittella Winery, 100 Barrett Street, Herne Hill WA 6056

More information: Invitations to register will be circulated closer to the event.

Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) Seminar

The theme of this year’s ASVO annual oenology seminar is Sensory Evaluation and Data Analysis, a topic of interest identified in surveys of previous seminar attendees.

Sensory evaluation and data analysis  is a critically important area for winemakers and researchers, but arguably is poorly understood and practised.

The aim of this seminar is to bring participants up-to-date with current best practices in sensory evaluation and the statistical issues involved. The emphasis will be on challenging established methods and providing attendees with both some theory and practice on the subject.

One day seminar, theory and practical workshop.

When: Wednesday 15 November 2017

Where: Adelaide, South Australia

More information: See the ASVO events page