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Wine researchers at the �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide are investigating drought-tolerant grape varieties from Cyprus for their suitability for �Ӱ�ֱ��n conditions.��

The Cypriot varieties Xynisteri (white) and Maratheftiko (red) have just been released from �Ӱ�ֱ��n quarantine and are being propagated at the �Ӱ�ֱ��’s Waite campus before being placed in trials, replicating those that were undertaken in commercial Cypriot vineyards over the past 6 months.

“We are seeing increasing temperatures and increasing frequency of heat waves in southern �Ӱ�ֱ�� and this is affecting vine harvest and putting more and more pressure on water resources,” says �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide PhD student Alexander Copper. “These varieties are very drought tolerant in Cyprus, often grown without any irrigation, and it is hoped they will be able to grow in �Ӱ�ֱ��n conditions with minimal to no irrigation.”

Mr Copper is funded by �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide and Wine �Ӱ�ֱ�� scholarships, and supervised by �����Ի���, and Dr Trent Johnson, in the �Ӱ�ֱ��’s .

“�Ӱ�ֱ��’s popular grape varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris are all French varieties that traditionally have been grown in parts of France with high rainfall and without irrigation.��In �Ӱ�ֱ�� these varieties are typically irrigated due to our difference in rainfall, likewise our Rieslings which originally came from Germany,” says Mr Copper.

“We do have some more drought tolerant varieties from Spain, Italy and Portugal, but I believe the Cypriot varieties will be more drought tolerant than these.��

“They have been cultivated for thousands of years in Cyprus, tolerating very hot, dry summers, surviving on winter rainfall alone, very similar to our climate here in South �Ӱ�ֱ��.”

Preliminary research has shown that �Ӱ�ֱ��n consumers like wines made from these varieties.

“The first part of Alexander’s project was to assess consumer response to these wines, which has been positive,” says Associate Professor Collins.��

“Considering the similar climates of �Ӱ�ֱ�� and Cyprus, these Cypriot grape varieties have potential as environmentally sustainable wines which will require less resources and help in the future adaptation of the wine industry to a changing climate.”

Mr Copper has completed trials under irrigated and drought conditions in Cyprus and the material from quarantine will be used to repeat these experiments in �Ӱ�ֱ�� to further determine their drought tolerance.��

“We hope to have data ready for publication from the Cyprus trials early in 2020, and the �Ӱ�ֱ��n trials at the Waite campus in Autumn 2021,” he says. “After that we hope to run field trials in different regions of South �Ӱ�ֱ��.”

This research at the �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide’s Waite campus, aligns with the �Ӱ�ֱ��’s industry engagement priority in agrifood and wine, and in tackling the grand challenge of environmental sustainability.

This article is republished from the , under a Creative Commons license.

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