Australian Viticulture Vol 13. (4) July/August 2009

Australian Viticulture journal

Volume 13 (4) 2009

OPINION

President of the Goulburn Valley Wine Association and owner of Ancient River
Vineyard, Laurie Martin, says winemakers and marketers need to share winegrape growers' responsibility for the Australian wine industry's over-supply.

OBITUARY

Renowned advocate of alternative grapevine varieties in Australia, Rod Bonfiglioli, has died aged 55. His partner Ruby Andrew and Australian Viticulture Assistant editor Sonya Logan present a memoriam of his work across the Australian and New Zealand viticulture sectors.

2009 VINTAGE REPORT

Australian Viticulture presents its annual round-up of the recent vintage following
another challenging season, which this year saw an intake of 1.71MT, 7% less than 2008.

IRRIGATION

A benchmarking study conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food
Western Australia to test the run-off threshold of roaded catchments for
vineyards within the Lower Great Southern area, inclusive of the Frankland
and Mount Barker regions, suggest that this method of water harvesting may assist growers that can afford to maintain the catchment infrastructure.

FROST CONTROL

Ahead of spring budburst. Fundamental Viticulture columnist Yasmin Chalmers, of
Scholefield Robinson Mildura, gives tips about managing vines through the frost
season.

Best known for his work with precision viticulture, Associate Professor David
Lamb, from the University of New England, has trialed a frost protection
system that involves hanging electrical heating cables along the main trellising
wire or vine cordon.

WRANGLING WEEDS

Profitable Viticulture columnist Tony Hoare toured his local region of McLaren
Vale to talk to viticulturists about their best means of managing weed invasion
during the colder months.

Researchers from the University of New England, New South Wales, report on their work during 2007 and 2008 to survey a number of weed stakeholder groups to determine how the spread and detection of weeds on Australian farms is being monitored.

VINE IMPROVEMENT

A working group is being led in discussion by Peter Hayes, current vice-president of the OIV, with the aim of developing a standards framework for a national quality vine assurance program.

CSIRO researchers Rob Walker and Peter Clingeleffer present their insight to
rootstock attributes and selection for Australian conditions, with a view to
increasing water use efficiency, drought and salt tolerance involving physiological
and genetic approaches.

TASMANIA

Regular columnist Mark Smith attended the recent Field Day held at Kelvedon
Estate, the 2009 Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year, and spoke to the award recipient Jack Cotton about his family's farming history.

VERMENTINO VARIETAL REPORT

Bruce and Kim Chalmers have great belief in the potential of white winegrape
Vermentino in Australian soils, and among the Australian wine drinking public. They shared their story with Sonya Logan for this issue's Varietal Report.

Regular features

News
Fundamental Viticulture
Profitable Viticulture
Varietal Report
VitiTrader