Researchers to investigate drought-tolerant vines
Friday, 12 July 2019
Wine researchers at the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ are investigating drought-tolerant grape varieties from Cyprus for their suitability for Australian conditions.
The Cypriot varieties Xynisteri (white) and Maratheftiko (red) have just been released from Australian quarantine and are being propagated at the University’s Waite campus before being placed in trials, replicating those being undertaken in commercial Cypriot vineyards.
“We are seeing increasing temperatures and increasing frequency of heat waves in southern Australia and this is affecting vine harvest and putting more and more pressure on water resources,” says University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ 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 Australian conditions with minimal to no irrigation.”
Mr Copper is funded by University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ and Wine Australia scholarships, and supervised by and Susan Bastian, and Dr Trent Johnson, in the University’s .
“Australia’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 Australia these varieties are typically irrigated due to our difference in rainfall, likewise our Rieslings which originally came from Germany,” says