Wine Industry Newsletter

Future events

Make sure you register for upcoming wine industry events

ASVO Fermentation seminar  

The focus this year will be on fermentation technology, management and microbial diversity. The seminar will also include an industry wide discussion on the merits of inoculated vs uninoculated fermentations.

Attendees at this year’s seminar will have the opportunity to gain an insight from international and local experts who will explore topics including microbial ecology in wild ferments, the use of non-Saccharomyces yeast, microbial contribution to regional wines, using oxygen to enhance fermentation performance, controlling colour and tannin extraction, and managing problematic fermentations.

The seminar proceedings will be live-streamed to smaller, more intimate gatherings in multiple regions, including Margaret River.

Date: 27 September 2018

Venue: Margaret River Education Campus, 272 Bussell Highway, Margaret River.

Details regarding the program and registration can be found at https://www.asvo.com.au/asvo-events/events/adelaide-seminar/.

Pest and disease management workshops

A strategic review by Wines of WA identified pest and disease management, sustainable viticulture and chemical resistance as high priorities for the WA wine industry.

These workshops will be delivered in the Swan Valley, Margaret River and Mt Barker to address all of these important topics with a selection of international, national and local expert speakers. Attendees will hear the latest research and sustainable practices for managing vineyard pests and diseases.

Headlining the speakers list is Professor Wayne Wilcox from Cornell University, New York State, USA. Professor Wilcox is an international renowned expert in grapevine pathology and will speak on the biology and sustainable management of powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, downy mildew and sour rot. 

Based in Mildura, Dr Bob Emmett is our national guest speaker who has decades of experience working in grapevine pathology in Australia. Dr Emmett will provide insight into integrated pest management practices and delve into the management of botryosphaeria trunk rot, mealybug and light brown apple moth.

DPIRD pathologist Andrew Taylor will give a WA perspective on downy mildew and fungicide resistance and entomologist Stewart Learmonth will discuss garden weevil management practices at the Mount Barker and Margaret River events.

Swan Valley

Date: Tuesday 16 October 2018

Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm

Venue: Swan Athletic Sporting Club (McDonald St, Herne Hill)

Margaret River

Date: Wednesday 17 October 2018

Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm

Venue: Margaret River Education Campus (272 Bussell Highway)

Mount Barker

Date: Friday 19 October 2018

Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm

Venue: Room MPR4, Community Resource Centre (1 Lowood Road, Mt Barker)

Registration is free and lunch will be provided after the workshop, RSVP to Jodie Whitfield.

Alternative variety forum

Forums in the Swan Valley and Busselton are being planned for the first week of December to explore the opportunities and challenges for alternative varieties across the value chain. A panel of speakers is being compiled to represent the key segments of the value chain to provide insight from vine to glass.

DPIRD Research Officer Richard Fennessy will also be present information from the departments 10+ years assessing the performance of alternative varieties. A tasting component will be included to show some of the varieties that have potential under WA growing conditions.

More information will be made available in October or otherwise contact Richard Fennessy.

Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference and Trade Exhibition

The 17th AWITC will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre 21-24 July 2019. This event will incorporate the Outlook Conference in partnership with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, feature the WineTech trade exhibition in collaboration with the Wine Industry Suppliers Association and Fair Events, and partner with the McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner. Program details will be added to this site as they become available.

Registration is scheduled to open in February 2019.

Date: 21 - 24 July 2019

Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide.

Details regarding the program and registration can be found at www.awitc.com.au.