The Australian Wine Research Institute

The Australian Wine Research Institute Blog

Technical Review August 2022 issue available online

25 August 2022 >

The new format offers a more convenient and seamless experience. Open access articles are linked to publishers’ websites where you can read full-text articles. Australian winemakers and grapegrowers who pay the Wine Grapes or Grape Research levies can log in to read abstracts and order the latest non-open access journal articles from the AWRI Library, free of charge. If you have forgotten your password for the AWRI website, please use the forgotten password link to reset your password.

We welcome your feedback on the new Technical Review and you can reach us at infoservices@awri.com.au.

 

Registrations are open for the next five webinars in our 2022 series

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As we turn the corner out of winter and head into September, registrations are now open for the next five webinars of the AWRI webinar program. Starting on Thursday, 1 September, the AWRI’s Mark Solomon will discuss using foliar sprays containing sulfur and nitrogen to boost tropical characters in white wine. Other webinar topics in this September block include soil health and soil water holding capacity, grapevine trunk disease, weather forecasting tools and the sensory impact of amino acids in dry red wine.

There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.

Sessions are held on Thursdays at 11:30 am (SA time).

All webinars are free to attend but do require pre-registration.

The five upcoming webinars are:

1 September 2022: Influencing tropical thiol concentration in white wine by combining foliar sprays and yeast selection – Mark Solomon (The Australian Wine Research Institute)

8 September 2022: Soil health and soil water holding capacity – Chiara Pasut (CSIRO) and Jeremy Nelson (Murray Lands and Riverland Landscapes Board)

15 September 2022: Grapevine trunk disease management for vineyard longevity – Dr Reggie Billones Baaijens (Charles Sturt University) and Dr Mark Sosnowski (SARDI)

22 September 2022: New BoM forecast products to help manage a La Niña summer – Peter Hayman (SARDI)

29 September 2022: The influence of amino acids, and their interactions, on the sensory properties and consumer acceptance of dry red wine – Damian Espinase Nandorfy (The Australian Wine Research Institute)

See the full program here.

System requirements

You will need a computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Audio is connected over the internet using your computer or mobile device’s speakers (voice over internet protocol – VOIP). Participants joining a webinar via a mobile device will need to download a free app available from iTunes or Google Play.

If you’ve missed a previous AWRI webinar, you can watch online via the AWRI’s YouTube channel.

For further information on AWRI webinars, please contact the AWRI events team.

eNews – July 2022

29 July 2022 >

New understanding of the importance of proline in dry red wine

Update on AWRI Board appointments

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia news

New approach to white wine protein stabilisation

Have you tuned into Season 2 of AWRI decanted?

Winter and spring webinars

Order the latest staff publications online

Acknowledgements

New understanding of the importance of proline in dry red wine
New research highlighting the influence of proline on the sensory properties of red wine has just been published by the AWRI and collaborators from Deakin University in the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research. Proline is the most abundant amino acid in wine and is used a non-carbohydrate sweetener with viscous properties in other foods. A series of experiments was conducted where proline (plus tannins and volatiles) was added to a red wine low in amino acids and to model wines to assess their sensory effects. The key findings were that proline:

  • increased viscous mouthfeel and decreased astringency
  • increased sweetness and decreased bitterness
  • increased red fruit flavour intensity

The results suggest that proline has a stronger influence on the sensory properties of red wine than previously suspected. The concentration of proline in grapes is related to ripeness and it cannot be utilised by yeast; as such, its concentration can be manipulated through viticultural practices. Proline is easily measured in wine and could be used to target desirable sensory profiles. Analysis of proline in wine is available from Affinity Labs. To find out more, access the full article here or read AWITC poster 87 here.

Update on AWRI Board appointments

Applications for the two appointed Director positions on the AWRI Board closed on 20 July. The Nominations Committee is pleased with the number and calibre of applications received and will be interviewing shortlisted applicants in August. An announcement of the successful appointees is expected to be made following the AWRI Board meeting on 20 September and the new appointed Directors will take office in November 2022. Nominations for vacant elected Director positions will open in September 2022, with more details to be provided closer to that date. For more information on any aspect of the AWRI’s Board election and appointment processes, contact AWRI Company Secretary, Shiralee Dodd, on shiralee.dodd@awri.com.au.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia news
It’s a busy time of the year for the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia team, with membership renewals well underway and the new membership season for 2022/23 now open! For existing members, you will notice a number of enhancements to the workbook – including the ability to add your own notes at every question and upload and store multiple documents as you go. This means everything you need will be safely stored in one place and ready to go if you are taking part in an audit.

If you’ve been considering membership, now is a great time to sign up. You can join directly here or if you’d like some extra support, sign up to receive handy tips with all you need to know to get started. And to hear all the latest program news, register now for the webinar coming up on 11 August, presented by Anna Hooper (Australian Grape & Wine), Rachel Triggs and Drea Hall (Wine Australia) and Dr Mardi Longbottom (AWRI). You can also find out about upcoming certification workshops that are being conducted both online and in-person over the next few months.

New approach to white wine protein stabilisation

A collaborative study looking at alternative approaches to protein stabilisation of white wine by researchers from the University of Adelaide and the AWRI has recently been published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. The paper reports chemical and sensory evaluation of ultrafiltration in combination with other treatments to achieve protein stabilisation of a Sauvignon Blanc wine. A combined ultrafiltration/heat/protease treatment removed 59% of protein from the wine, reducing the amount of bentonite needed by 72%, without affecting wine quality or sensory characteristics. The full paper is available open access from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.799809/full

Have you tuned into Season 2 of AWRI decanted?
The second season of our podcast AWRI decanted is now well underway! New episodes covering irrigation and non-chemical weed control have already been released, featuring both researchers and practitioners. The easiest way to listen is to subscribe to AWRI decanted in your favourite podcast app – that way you will never miss an episode. Alternatively, you can listen directly from the podcast page on the AWRI website. Upcoming episodes cover topics including soil carbon, regenerative viticulture and automation in vineyards.

Winter and spring webinars

Winter and spring are peak webinar season! Our 2022 webinars kicked off on 21 July with a session on global wine market trends. New webinars are happening every Thursday, with topics including the National Vintage Report, grapevine viruses, sustainability and recovery from hail coming up over the next few weeks. Visit the AWRI webinar page to register for sessions you are interested in, subscribe to the webinar mailing list to be notified as new webinars become available or visit the AWRI’s YouTube channel to view previous webinar recordings at a time that suits you.

Order the latest staff publications online

Accessing the latest AWRI publications is easy. Visit the AWRI Publications web page to:

  • View the 10 most recent AWRI staff publications and order the articles online from the AWRI Library
  • Search the staff publications database
  • Read the full-text of ‘Technical Notes’ from Technical Review (PDF format)
  • Read the full-text of ‘AWRI reports’ and ‘Vineyards of the world columns’ published in Wine & Viticulture Journal (PDF format)
  • Read the full text of ‘Ask the AWRI columns’ published in Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker

The AWRI’s most recent publications are listed below.

2294 Cowey, G. Ask the AWRI: Effects of COVID-19 on sense of smell. Aust. N.Z. Grapegrower Winemaker (700): 48-50; 2022.

2295 Varela, C., Borneman, A. Molecular approaches to improving our understanding of Brettanomyces physiology. FEMS Yeast Res. foac028: 2022.

2296 Varela, C., Kutyna, D., Curtin, C., Borneman, A. KU80 deletion does not improve homologous recombination in Brettanomyces bruxellensis. Authorea DOI: 10.22541/au.165048566.64316743 v1: 1-14; 2022.

2297 Longbottom, M. Ask the AWRI: Importing new grape varieties. Aust. N.Z. Grapegrower Winemaker (701): 78, 80; 2022.

2298 Dabare, P.R.L., Bachhuka, A., Palms, D., Parkinson-Lawrence, E., Hayball, J.D., Mierczynska, A., Vasilev, K. Surface chemistry mediated albumin adsorption, conformational changes and influence on innate immune responses. Appl. Surf. Sci. 596: 153518; 2022.

2299 Kutyna, D.R., Onetto, C.A., Williams, T.C., Goold, H.D., Paulsen, I.T., Pretorius, I.S., Johnson, D.L. Borneman, A.R. Construction of a synthetic Saccharamyces cerevisiae pan-genome neo-chromosome. Nat. Commun. 13: 3628; 2022.

2300 Gawel, R., Schulkin, A., Espinase Nandorfy, D., Milton, P., Bindon, K. Smith, P.A. Float or sink? Comparing the impacts of flotation and cold settling on the non-volatile composition, taste and mouthfeel of white wines. Wine Vitic. J. 37(3): 16-21; 2022.

2301 Longbottom, M., Robinson, E., Krstic, M. Growing shoots of sustainability. Wine Vitic. J. 37(3): 30-33; 2022.

2302 Dry, P. Alicante Bouschet. Wine Vitic. J. 37(3): p. 63; 2022

2303 Villarreal, P., Villarroel, C.A., O’Donnell, S., Agier, N., Quintero-Galvis, J.F., Pena, T.A., Nespolo, R.F., Fischer, G., Verela, C., Cubillos, F.A. Late Pleistocene-dated divergence between South Hemisphere populations of the non-conventional yeast L. cidri. Environ Microbiol. 1-15. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.16103 ; 2022.

2304 Wilkes, E., Krstic, M. Introducing Affinity Labs – a new identity for the AWRI’s commercial activities. Aust. N.Z. Grapegrower Winemaker (702): 14; 2022.

2305 Cordingley, B. Ask the AWRI: Techniques to detect Brettanomyces before it’s too late. Aust. N.Z. Grapegrower Winemaker (702): 70-71; 2022.

Acknowledgements

The AWRI acknowledges support from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers through their investment body, Wine Australia, with matching funds from the Australian Government. The AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, South Australia.

Applications closing soon for AWRI Director and Chair positions

14 July 2022 >

13 July 2022

The AWRI Board is currently seeking to appoint two non-executive Directors, one of whom who would act as Chair from January 2023. Applications are due by 20 July 2022.

The position of Chair will become vacant in December 2022, when highly respected and long-standing Chair, Louisa Rose, reaches the end of her term on the Board under the rules of the AWRI Board Charter.

More information about the positions and how to apply is available from the AWRI Careers webpage.

AWRI stakeholders are encouraged to circulate this opportunity among their networks, to ensure the widest possible pool of qualified candidates for these important roles.

For more information about the vacant positions, contact AWRI Company Secretary, Shiralee Dodd on (08) 8313 6600 or shiralee.dodd@awri.com.au.

Five new AWRI webinars – registration is open now!

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8 July 2022

As we head into the cold and wet months, registrations are now open for the first five webinars of the 2022 AWRI webinar program. Starting on Thursday, 21 July, Simone George, a Global Wine & Grape Broker from Ciatti, will lead you through the global bulk wine landscape, looking at key international markets and pending issues, including the supply and demand outlook for Australian grapes and wine. Other webinar topics in this winter block include the national vintage report for 2022, a biosecurity webinar on grapevine viruses and phytoplasmas, a comprehensive update on Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and a look at hail recovery and what has been learnt from the damage that occurred in the 2021 growing season.

Each webinar includes a presentation and, where appropriate, a practitioner to contribute real-life examples and experiences. There will also be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.

Sessions are held on Thursdays at 11:30 am (SA time).

All webinars are free to attend but do require pre-registration.

The five upcoming webinars are:

21 July 2022: Global wine market trends – Simone George (Ciatti)

28 July 2022: Overview of the 2022 National Vintage Report – Sandy Hathaway (Wine Australia)

4 August 2022: Grapevine viruses and phytoplasmas: a biosecurity challenge for viticulture – Fiona Constable (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – Agriculture Victoria)

11 August 2022: Sustainable Winegrowing Australia – Dr Mardi Longbottom (AWRI), Anna Hooper (Australian Grape & Wine), Dréa Hall (Wine Australia)

18 August 2022: Recovering from hail damage – looking back on what we learnt from the 2021 season – Chris Rogers (Rogers Viticulture)

System requirements

You will need a computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Audio is connected over the internet using your computer or mobile device’s speakers (voice over internet protocol – VOIP). Participants joining a webinar via a mobile device will need to download a free app available from iTunes or Google Play.

If you’ve missed a previous AWRI webinar, you can watch online via the AWRI’s YouTube channel.

For further information on AWRI webinars, please contact the AWRI events team.

Launching Affinity Labs – a new identity for our commercial activities

27 June 2022 >

27 June 2022
Today is an exciting day for the AWRI, as we launch a new identity for our commercial activities – Affinity Labs.

The AWRI has offered commercial services to grape and wine producers for more than 30 years. Over that time, our commercial arm has evolved with the times, tailoring services to meet industry demand and adopting new technologies and capabilities. Now the business is taking the next evolutionary step, expanding our offering and focusing on improved customer service under the Affinity Labs banner. By differentiating Affinity Labs from our research activities, we will apply our expertise to support a wider range of food and beverage producers. This will improve economies of scale, expand our knowledge and ensure the ongoing sustainability of our world-class grape and wine research, development and extension activities.

Affinity Labs customers can expect highly respected technical capabilities with a renewed focus on streamlined processes and an improved customer experience. Customers will access services via a new standalone website (affinitylabs.com.au), which will soon include simplified sample submission and reporting.

The AWRI’s services to grape and wine industry that are supported by Wine Australia, including the helpdesk, roadshows and library, will of course continue to be free to access for all Australian grape and wine levy payers.

At the AWRI we will remain focused on the grape and wine industry, delivering cutting-edge research to tackle the challenges and opportunities we currently face and providing valued services to grapegrowers and winemakers.

Affinity Labs is being launched today at the WineTech trade exhibition at the Adelaide Convention Centre. If you’re attending the 18th AWITC or WineTech, please drop by stand 1113 to chat to the team any time from 27 to 29 June 2022.

If you’d like to know more about Affinity Labs, don’t hesitate to contact AWRI Managing Director Mark Krstic (mark.krstic.com.au) or Affinity Labs General Manager, Dr Eric Wilkes (eric.wilkes@affinitylabs.com.au).

AWRI Board seeks new Chair under revised composition and recruitment processes

21 June 2022 >

21 June 2022

The AWRI Board is today launching a search for two non-executive Directors, one of whom who would act as Chair from January 2023.

The position of Chair will become vacant in December 2022, when highly respected and long-standing Chair, Louisa Rose, reaches the end of her term on the Board under the rules of the AWRI Board Charter.

A nominations committee has been formed to recruit the two new Directors. More information about the positions and how to apply is available from the AWRI Careers webpage.

This recruitment follows an industry consultation period in October 2021 in which changes to the AWRI Board’s composition and appointment processes were proposed to ensure the AWRI remains up to date with best-practice corporate governance and continues to meet the needs of the Australian grape and wine industry. The proposed changes were approved by the AWRI Board in February 2022. These changes include:

  • The introduction from January 2023 of a position elected by Grape Research Levy payers
  • Reducing the number of positions elected by levy payers from six to four, including one position nominated and elected by each of the small, medium and large category Wine Grapes Levy payers and one position nominated and elected by Grape Research Levy payers.
  • Increasing the maximum number of Appointed Director positions from four to six, to ensure an appropriate balance of skills and diversity (including geography).
  • Introducing a nominations committee, made up of a mix of independent members and current Directors, to assist in the selection and reappointment of Appointed Directors.
  • Incorporating an open recruitment process for the appointment of Appointed Directors, seeking expressions of interest to address identified gaps in the Board’s skills and diversity.
  • Introducing a gender diversity quota for non-executive Director positions, specifying a minimum of at least four Directors of either gender.

AWRI stakeholders are encouraged to circulate this opportunity among their networks, to ensure the widest possible pool of qualified candidates for these important roles.

For more information about the changes to the AWRI Board’s composition and appointment processes, contact AWRI Company Secretary, Shiralee Dodd on (08) 8313 6600 or Shiralee.Dodd@awri.com.au.

Agrochemical update June 2022

15 June 2022 >

This agrochemical update summarises the major changes in the 2022/23 ‘Dog book’ compared with the previous version. The new edition will be available from 1 July. Information about how to download an electronic copy or order a hard copy will be issued closer to the date.

New active constituents

The following active constituents are registered for use in wine-grape production by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and are listed in the ‘Dog book’ for the first time:

ACETIC ACID

APVMA 86050 and 89133: ‘Boost Plus’ and ‘Weed Terminator’ are Contact Organics Pty Ltd products registered for control of weeds in grapevines. They are activity group Z herbicides.

Recommended restriction on use (withholding period) for grapes destined for export wine: Not required when used as directed. General advice for herbicides: Contact your winery prior to any herbicide application within 30 days of harvest.

IRON PHOSPHATE

APVMA 89908: Ironmax Pro is an AgNova Technologies Pty Ltd product registered for control of slugs and snails in vineyards.

Recommended restriction on use (withholding period) for grapes destined for export wine: Not required when used as directed.

IRON POWDER

APVMA 86914 and 90408: Eradicate Eco is a Fair Dinkum Fertilizers product and Eco-Shield is an Organic Crop Protectant product. Both are registered for control of slugs and snails in vineyards.

Recommended restriction on use (withholding period) for grapes destined for export wine: Not required when used as directed.

POLYOXYN-D ZINC SALT

APVMA 90033: Intervene WG is a Nufarm Australia Pty Ltd product registered for control of Botrytis and powdery mildew in vineyards. It is an activity group 19 fungicide.

Recommended restriction on use (withholding period) for grapes destined for export wine: Use no later than E-L 34 (before commencement of veraison) AND not within 44 days of harvest.

Removed active constituents

METHIOCARB

Methiocarb and products containing methiocarb have been removed from the ‘Dog book’ because they have not been commercially available for two seasons. Mesurol Snail and Slug Bait is still registered for use by the APVMA and stocks on hand can be used according to label directions.

Changes to withholding period (WHP) recommendations for export wine

EUGENOL, GERANIOL, THYMOL

The recommended restriction on use for products containing eugenol, geraniol and thymol is now ‘Use no later than 14 days before harvest.’

Note

The ‘Dog book’ recommendations have been developed to meet the regulatory requirements of Australia’s most stringent export markets. If you only sell wine in Australia, or to only a few countries, contact the AWRI to discuss how the recommendations might differ.

For more information, please contact Marcel Essling on 08 8313 6600 or email helpdesk@awri.com.au.

This information is provided to inform the Australian grape and wine sector and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product.

Technical Review June 2022 issue available online

8 June 2022 >

The June 2022 issue of Technical Review is now available online or in PDF format. You can browse the list of the latest articles on grape and wine production by keyword, view article summaries, read full-text articles from open access journals and order journal articles (not available for open access) from the AWRI Library.

For copyright reasons, access to abstracts is available only to Australian winemakers and grapegrowers who pay the Wine Grapes or Grape Research levies. The technical notes authored by the AWRI are, however, freely available. If you have forgotten your password for the AWRI website, please use the forgotten password link to reset your password.

Below is a snapshot of what's in this issue:

AWRI Technical Notes
AWRI publications
Current literature – oenology
Current literature – viticulture