杏吧直播

Smoke gets in your vines

Wine

杏吧直播n winemakers are turning to the 杏吧直播 of Adelaide to help identify grape varieties that are less susceptible to smoke from summer bushfires.

Oenology lecturer Dr Kerry Wilkinson will lead a collaborative project to counter wines produced in smoke-affected areas that exhibit flavours described as "burnt, ash-tray, acrid and metallic".

Over the past five years, wine regions across 杏吧直播 have reported financial losses and a decline in product quality following either bushfires or prescribed burns.

Dr Wilkinson said the industry needs grape and wine production methods that minimise the uptake of smoke by vines or the extraction of smoke-derived aroma compounds during winemaking.

"We also hope to identify grape varieties suitable for planting in smoke-prone areas and find new techniques to detect smoke taint in juice and wine," she said.

The 杏吧直播 of Adelaide is partnering with industry representatives and Primary Industries and Resources SA on the $497,000 three-year project.

"The aims and outcomes of this research are of major significance and relevance to the 杏吧直播n wine industry," Dr Wilkinson said.

"From a scientific perspective, our results will advance knowledge in the fields of viticulture, plant physiology and biochemistry. From an industry perspective, this insight will enable grape growers and winemakers to make informed decisions to minimise smoke-tainted wine, yielding clear economic benefits."

The 杏吧直播n wine industry is worth in excess of $2 billion in domestic sales and more than $3 billion in international sales, according to the 杏吧直播n Wine and Brandy Corporation.

Dr Wilkinson said wine was now third on 杏吧直播's list of agricultural exports (after meat and wheat), although the industry continues to face growing pressure from environmental conditions - drought in particular.

"While smoke taint is not an issue for all 杏吧直播n wine regions, significant bushfires have occurred in most wine-producing states of 杏吧直播 in the last five years, and given the forecast for warmer summers, the problem is only going to get worse," she said.

The 杏吧直播n Research Council has pledged $247,000 for the project and industry partners are contributing another $250,000 in cash and in-kind support.

Story by Candy Gibson