June 2026
The 2026/2027 Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture, also known as the ‘Dog book’ is now available online.
Updated every year, The ‘Dog book’ is an annually published essential reference guide for the Australian grapegrowers and to facilitate market access for Australian wine into our key export markets.
May 2026
Discover the latest AWRI research and view your curated digest of recommended grape and wine publications, handpicked by viticultural scientist and AWRI Emeritus Fellow Dr Peter Dry and oenologist and Engagement Specialist Matt Holdstock.
Latest AWRI publications
A selection of the latest in viticulture
A selection of the latest in oenology
Are you a library member?
Did you know our database contains more than 765 immediately available digital journals and magazines? Library members can set up alerts to be notified about key areas of interest.
Library services are free of charge to all Australian grapegrowers and winemakers.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by Wine Australia, with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
3 March 2026
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is excited to announce the appointment of Siobhan Toohill as the independent Chair, marking an important milestone in the program’s governance evolution and future strategic direction.
The appointment is the first step in the implementation of governance reforms announced in December 2025, which established the transition to an independent Chair, skills-based Board and dedicated Executive Officer to strengthen oversight, responsiveness and long-term impact across the Australian grape and wine sector.
Ms Toohill brings extensive executive leadership experience in sustainability strategy and risk management and involvement in shaping industry frameworks and tools across climate, nature and social impact. As Chair, she will play a central role in guiding Sustainable Winegrowing Australia through its next phase of development — including oversight of Board and Executive Officer selection, governance establishment, and development of the program’s strategic plan.
Her leadership will support the program’s continued growth, balancing this with the need to remain practical and cost effective, credible and internationally recognised while delivering value to Australian grapegrowers and winemakers.
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is a national collaboration between Australian Grape & Wine, Wine Australia and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), providing a framework for continuous improvement, benchmarking and certification across environmental, social and governance practices.
The establishment of an independent Chair and refreshed governance model reflects the sector’s shared commitment to strengthening sustainability performance and ensuring the program is equipped to meet evolving market, climate and regulatory expectations.
“Siobhan’s appointment as independent Chair represents a significant step forward for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Her expertise in sustainability leadership and system transformation will be invaluable as the program enters this next phase of governance maturity and strategic impact.” Lee McLean, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Grape & Wine Inc.
“Siobhan’s appointment confirms the sector’s commitment to strong, independent governance and credible sustainability leadership. Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and its members will benefit from her knowledge and guidance across climate, nature and social impact.” Dr Mark Krstic, Managing Director, AWRI.
“This is an important milestone in the evolution of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Siobhan’s strategic and governance experience will ensure the program is positioned for long-term impact and aligns with the expectations of members, regulators and the broader community.” Dr Martin Cole, Chief Executive Officer, Wine Australia.
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. The program plays a critical role in supporting the sector’s sustainability ambitions, and I look forward to working with industry to strengthen its impact, accessibility and global credibility.” Siobhan Toohill, Chair, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
Ms Toohill’s appointment comes at a time of strong program momentum, with growing national participation and sustained focus on continuous improvement, usability and cost-effectiveness for members.
Ms Toohill is working closely with the Australian Grape and Wine, AWRI and Wine Australia to finalise the appointment of the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Advisory Board and recruitment has commenced for an Executive Officer for the program. Further information about the Executive Officer role can be found here.
2 March 2026
Technical Review is the AWRI’s technical publication. It features the AWRI’s latest published research, and a curated selection of recent grape and wine literature recommended by viticultural scientist and AWRI Emeritus Fellow Dr Peter Dry and oenologist and Engagement Specialist Matt Holdstock.
Australian winemakers and grapegrowers can view abstracts and access the latest non-open access journal articles and books from the John Fornachon Memorial Library, free of charge.
Access the full March issue of Technical Review online, or view a small selection of our recommendations from this issue below:
AWRI publications
Viticulture
Sustainability
Oenology
While you are there, check out the library’s database containing more than 765 immediately available digital journals and magazines, and set up alerts to be notified about new issues or key topics of interest to you.
Not a library member yet? Register for a new login or use the forgotten password link to reset your password.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by Wine Australia, with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
27 February 2026
Persistent rainfall events in the period from veraison to harvest can put vines under significant threat of disease − in particular botrytis bunch rot. Consequently, growers may be left with some difficult operational decisions.
Management strategies should be reviewed every few days as fruit ripeness and local weather conditions change. In some cases, activities including spraying or trimming may not be viable, or of limited value, and some crop loss or fruit remaining unharvested may be inevitable.
This eBulletin outlines key late-season management considerations relating to minimising botrytis infection and spread after rainfall events.
Botrytis bunch rot susceptibility
Considerations around fungicide spray decisions
Withholding periods – mandatory minimum time between chemical application and harvest that must be completed. This is termed the ‘export harvest interval’ for grapes destined for export wine as identified in the Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture booklet, commonly known as the ‘Dog book’, or the ‘withholding period’ for grapes destined for the domestic market (refer product labels).
Spray effectiveness – whether adequate spray coverage can be achieved for the active ingredient to be effective. Given the disease can start within the bunch and spread outwards, spray application to minimise botrytis on berries requires thorough coverage on the surface of and inside bunches. Late in the growing season, dense canopies can severely hamper sprays reaching this target bunch zone. Where vineyard access is possible, consider the need to trim or leaf pluck your canopy to enhance spray penetration at the bunch zone.
OH&S considerations – whether the health and safety of vineyard operators can be assured. Wet and slippery conditions can be dangerous for a tractor towing a heavy spray cart, especially on sloping ground. If safe access is not feasible, this can limit spraying or trimming opportunities.
Available fungicide options
The number of available spray options against botrytis reduces closer to harvest. Within 14 days of harvest, there is only a short list of spray options recommended for use on grapes destined for export wine. The following table is taken from Table 1 in the ‘Dog book’:
| Active constituent | Activity group | Some registered products | Export harvest interval |
| Eugenol, geraniol, thimol | BM01 | Novellus | Use no later than 14 days before harvest |
| Potassium salts of fatty acids | U1 | Ecoprotector#, Hitman | |
| BLAD | BM01 | ProBlad, ProBlad Verde | Use no later than 7 days before harvest |
| Hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid | M+M | Peracetic Acid#, PeraCrop Max#, Peratec PLUS#, Peroxy Treat# | |
| Aureobasidium pullulans | BM02 | Botector | May be used until harvest |
| Bacillus amyloliquefaciens | BM02 | Serenade Opti, Serifel |
Biological products such as Aureobasidium pullulans (Botector) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Serenade Opti, Serifel) act mainly as protectants and are most effective when applied before infection, or at very early stages of botrytis development. They can be useful late season where withholding periods restrict other spray options. A. pullulans works by colonising berry surfaces and competing with the pathogen, while Bacillus-based products suppress infection through naturally produced antifungal compounds. Biologicals may be beneficial after rainfall where berries remain intact, but provide limited control once berries are split or active botrytis is present. In such cases, cultural management practices or desiccant-type products (hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid or potassium salts of fatty acids) may be more appropriate. As for general fungicide application, adequate bunch-zone coverage is essential when applying any of the products listed in the above table, and rainfall after application may reduce persistence.
If a decision is made to spray:
Cultural management options
Promote airflow – where vineyard access is possible, consider slashing undervine and midrow to reduce humidity and promote air flow. This can provide a viable alternative to spraying.
Hand thinning of bunches – for high value, higher yielding blocks of thinner-skinned varieties, potentially weeks out from harvest – it may be economical to hand thin bunches, minimising bunch-on-bunch contact to slow down spread of botrytis.
Drop infected bunches – for high value blocks just prior to harvest, consider dropping infected bunches ahead of the mechanical harvester, or conducting selective hand harvesting.
Harvest adjustments – work with your winery to adjust your harvest timing and picking order so that at-risk blocks are picked first to minimise botrytis incidence and quality loss.
Further information
Contact
AWRI helpdesk phone: 08 8313 6600 (option 1)
Email: helpdesk@awri.com.au Website: http://www.awri.com.au
Address: Wine Innovation Central Building, Corner of Hartley Grove & Paratoo Rd, Urrbrae (Adelaide), SA 5064
Acknowledgement
This eBulletin is supported by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
21 January 2026
Technical Review is the AWRI’s own technical publication, which includes updates on AWRI research and a curated selection of the most recent grape and wine literature recommended by AWRI Emeritus Fellow Dr Peter Dry and Engagement Specialist Matt Holdstock.
Australian winemakers and grapegrowers can view abstracts and access the latest non-open access journal articles and books from the John Fornachon Memorial Library, free of charge.
Access the full January issue of Technical Review online, or view a small selection of our recommendations from this issue below:
AWRI publications
Viticulture
Oenology
While you are there, check out the library’s database containing more than 765 immediately available digital journals and magazines, and set up alerts to be notified about new issues or key topics of interest to you.
Not a library member yet? Register for a new login or use the forgotten password link to reset your password.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by Wine Australia, with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
3 December 2025
Keeping botrytis bunch rot under control is vital for producing clean, high-quality fruit. However, occurrence of fungicide resistance is making this task more difficult.
This eBulletin includes a summary of conditions conducive to botrytis developing in the vineyard, and why fungicide resistance in botrytis is a problem, how to identify it, test for it, and manage it effectively.
About botrytis bunch rot
Botrytis bunch rot is one of the most prevalent diseases of grapevines in Australia. The disease is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which affects dead, injured, or senescing grapevine tissue, a situation often seen in berries, particularly when they are damaged or overripe. When the following set of conditions arise, botrytis bunch rot can become a problem:
| Factor | Conditions |
| Weather conditions |
|
| Growth stages |
|
| Susceptibility |
|
| Canopy size and management |
|
What is fungicide resistance in botrytis and why does it matter?
Over time, Botrytis cinerea can change genetically, reducing the effectiveness of fungicides and sometimes making them ineffective altogether. For winegrape growers, this can mean fewer reliable tools to manage the disease, the need for more frequent spraying, increased environmental impact and production costs, and even the risk of crop losses or fruit rejection.
Read more about how fungicide resistance occurs and how to avoid it here.
How do you know if you have resistance to botrytis fungicides?
If you are applying fungicides each year and the incidence and severity of botrytis bunch rot seems to be getting worse, you may have fungicide resistance or reduced sensitivity.
Botrytis fungicide resistance detections in Australian vineyards
Recent research led by South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), a research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), in collaboration with Curtin University, Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) has confirmed the detection of botrytis resistance to several fungicide groups commonly used in vineyards.
| Active ingredient | Fungicide Activity Group | Resistance status |
| pyrimethanil | 9 | Detected |
| fludioxonil | 12 | Detected |
| fenhexamid | 17 | Detected |
Source: Curtin University, Centre for Crop and Disease Management
While resistance to these major groups has been detected, there are other fungicide groups for which resistance has not yet been reported in Australia. A range of registered products for each active ingredient can be found in Table 2 of the 2025/26 Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture, commonly known as the ‘Dog book’. A full list of detections from this research can be found on page 18 in the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’.
How can you test for botrytis resistance?
If you suspect botrytis fungicide resistance, a free national testing service to monitor fungicide resistance in botrytis, powdery mildew and downy mildew in winegrapes is available (until June 2027).
Samples for botrytis resistance testing can be submitted to the Curtin University, Centre for Crop and Disease Management by following the detailed sampling instructions here. Biosecurity considerations apply. Prior to sending samples to the laboratory, please contact lincoln.harper@curtin.edu.au.
This testing service is part of a research project led by SARDI in collaboration with Curtin University and the AWRI, and funded by Wine Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food, and Environments (SAAFE CRC), SARDI and Curtin University.
Importance of spray program management
Overuse of the same fungicide groups as part of a spray program is a key contributor to the development of botrytis bunch rot fungicide resistance.
One of the key information sources provided annually in the ‘Dog book’ to assist you in reducing botrytis fungicide resistance is the CropLife Australia resistance management strategy on page 16.
Before you order chemical products for the new season, review this strategy alongside your proposed spray program. In particular, take note:
Note that some fungicide groups and/or products are restricted or prohibited from use by some wineries. Refer to Table 2 in the ‘Dog book’ and your winery/grape purchaser’s guidelines before you spray.
In addition to reading the CropLife Australia resistance management strategies, always read chemical labels prior to spray application to ensure you are applying the correct treatment rate.
Further information
Contact
AWRI helpdesk phone: 08 8313 6600 (option 1)
Email: helpdesk@awri.com.au Website: http://www.awri.com.au
Address: Wine Innovation Central Building, Corner of Hartley Grove & Paratoo Rd, Urrbrae (Adelaide), SA 5064
Acknowledgements
The fungicide resistance testing work has been supported by the SAAFE CRC whose activities are funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Programme.
The AWRI thanks Mark Sosnowski and Ismail Ismail from SARDI and Lincoln Harper and Fran Lopez Ruiz from Curtin University for their review.
This eBulletin is supported by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
1 December 2025
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has advised that it’s final regulatory decision on paraquat and diquat, expected prior to the end of 2025, will now be handed down in mid-2026.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty around future use of paraquat and diquat products in vineyards, the AWRI currently expects them to remain in next season’s, 2026/27 edition of Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture, commonly known as the ‘Dog book’.
The APVMA initially deferred their final regulatory decision citing “a high volume of submissions from the public consultation process”; however, on 26 November 2025, reasoned the latest deferral following a release by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) of an updated review in which it concluded that there is greater uncertainty regarding the potential for paraquat to volatilise than previously considered.
The APVMA is currently reviewing its assessments of the volatility of paraquat in line with the US EPA’s concerns.
The AWRI will continue to keep industry informed of any further changes to the above timeline and of the final regulatory result and implications for industry.
Related AWRI eBulletins
Contact
AWRI helpdesk phone: 08 8313 6600 (option 1)
Email: helpdesk@awri.com.au
Acknowledgements
This eBulletin is supported by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
19 November 2025
Technical Review is the AWRI’s own technical publication, which includes updates on AWRI research and a curated selection of the most recent grape and wine literature recommended by AWRI Emeritus Fellow Dr Peter Dry and Engagement Specialist Matt Holdstock.
Australian winemakers and grapegrowers can view abstracts and access the latest non-open access journal articles and books from the John Fornachon Memorial Library, free of charge.
Access the full November issue of Technical Review online, or view a small selection of our recommendations from this issue below:
AWRI publications
Viticulture
Sustainability
Oenology
While you are there, check out the library’s database containing more than 765 immediately available digital journals and magazines, and set up alerts to be notified about new issues or key topics of interest to you.
Not a library member yet? Register for a new login or use the forgotten password link to reset your password.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by Wine Australia, with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
18 November 2025
An election was recently held for two positions on the AWRI Board: one in the Grape Research Levy payer category and one in the large Wine Grapes Levy payer category.
The AWRI is pleased to announce that Peter Szabo (CCW Co-operative Ltd, SA) was elected in the Grape Research Levy payer category and Wayne Ellis (Ellis Castle Consulting, Vic) was elected in the large Wine Grapes Levy payer category.
Peter Szabo is a vineyard owner and seasoned agribusiness leader with over four decades of experience across the Australian wine sector. He is currently the General Manager and Company Secretary of CCW Co-operative Ltd—Australia’s largest grower-owned grape supply organisation— overseeing operations, financial performance and strategic direction of a membership of nearly 500 winegrape growers. Peter is also a Director of CIT (Central Irrigation Trust).
Wayne Ellis is a highly experienced people, strategy, supply and operations and process manager with over 25 years’ cross functional experience with medium to large FMCG companies. He has extensive experience across a wide range of industry sectors including wine, project management, supply chain management and operational management in the electronics industry. In previous roles at Duxton Vineyards, Accolade Wines, Zilzie Wines and Treasury Wine Estates, Wayne was responsible for overseeing the supply chain and operations across Australia and New Zealand. He is currently a consultant with Ellis Castle Consulting.
Both Directors will commence their new elected terms on 1 January 2026. The terms of outgoing Board members Iain Jones and Damien Sheehan conclude on 31 December 2025. The AWRI thanks Iain and Damien for their contributions over their time on the AWRI Board.
