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R&D Grant to Improve the Quality of Cool Climate and Sparkling Wines
What is the ICIP Project?
In mid 2007, Wine Industry Tasmania was approached by leading viticulturalist Dr Richard Smart, with a suggestion that a group of like-minded industry organisations get together to apply for a research and development grant from AusIndustry’s Industry Cooperation and Innovation Program. As a result, a consortium was formed and an application was prepared and submitted. In late 2007 AusIndustry awarded the consortium $900,000 to conduct a number of R&D programs. It was agreed that the $900,000 would be matched dollar-for-dollar by the consortium, to make a $1.8 million three-year program commencing on 1 July 2008.
Who is Involved?
The Consortium consists of six industry organisations with a passion for cool-climate wine and viticultural research.
- Wine Tasmania – the peak body for the grape growers and winemakers in Tasmania.
- Tamar Ridge Estates – Tasmania’s largest producer of premium cool climate table wines
- Australian Wine Research Institute – one of Australia’s leading wine research institutes.
- Croplands Pty Ltd - manufacturers and importers of quality agricultural spray equipment, components and accessories.
- Flextank International Ltd (www.flextank.com.au)
- Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research - a joint venture between the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and the Tasmanian State Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, works closely with industry in research, development and extension programs to address agricultural productivity, efficiency, safe food production, social and national resource management issues.
The Project Team consists of a number of research personnel from the University of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, the Australian Wine Research Institute along with representatives from various private industry organisations/businesses.
The team is project managed by Project Manager, Dr Richard Smart, a world renowned viticulturalist. For more information on Dr Smart, visit www.smartvit.com.au.
The project is co-managed by Dr Bob Dambergs. Dr Dambergs is a senior research scientist with the Australian Wine Research Institute. Dr Dambergs has been appointed to commence wine research work based at the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research at the University of Tasmania’s Hobart campus. For more information on Dr Dambergs, click here to view his profile and click here to download a media release regarding his appointment.
Much of the “hands-on” research is being conducted by PhD students, technicians and post-doctorate students from the University of Tasmania.
Project Description
Research, development and advisory programs to improve Pinot Noir and sparkling wine quality for the very-cool climate Australian wine industry, and vineyard spray efficiency nationwide.
Project Objectives
THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO SUPPLY TECHNICAL INFORMATION TO FACILITATE ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT…
This project is essentially one of research and development which is designed to underpin and encourage further growth of, and investment in, the Australian very-cool climate fine wine industry. Tasmania is Australia's coolest state, and it's vineyards are the coolest in the nation. Premium quality sparkling wines and Pinot Noir wines are produced from grapes grown under the coolest conditions in the nation. Therefore, it is appropriate that the Tasmanian part of the Australian wine industry has taken this initiative, which will benefit overall the Australian wine industry and Australia. The Australian wine sector has failed to develop the high value sparkling wine and Pinot Noir portions of its export wine portfolio. This project will assist overcoming this deficiency.
Sparkling wines are made from the varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so the two components of the project are linked. Pinot Noir is 44% and Chardonnay 28 % of Tasmania’s 2006 plantings, the highest proportions of any Australian state.
The Tasmanian wine sector is poised to grow and make substantial inroads into the export of premium table and sparkling wines, which will complement production of lower value wines from warmer wine regions of Australia. This emphasis on regionality and improved wine quality is in keeping with national wine industry strategies announced in May 2007 (Direction 2025, see Attachment 4) to improve the marketing opportunities and value per litre of exported wine.
At the moment the Tasmanian wine industry is small with two medium size companies (Tamar Ridge is one) and many small " boutique” operations. Tasmanian grapes and wines have attracted the interest of wine companies on the mainland, and some large companies (Yalumba, Hardy's, Southcorp, Domaine Chandon, Taltarni etc) are especially involved in sparkling wine production using Tasmanian grapes.
There is also growing interest in production of varietal table wines, and of these, Pinot Noir is the undisputed king. Despite the recent glut in mainland Australian wine grape production over the last several years, there has been no glut in Tasmania, and the prices paid are the highest for any region in Australia.
Despite this interest, there has been no research into appropriate vineyard and winery practices for sparkling wine and Pinot Noir in Australia, in contrast to the great amount carried out on varieties like Shiraz in warm and hot regions. There is a lack of confidence in very-cool climate viticulture, which has discouraged investment. This project will help to boost confidence in this industry and encourage investment.
..WHICH WILL ARISE FROM RESEARCH AND ADVISORY PROJECTS WITH OUTCOMES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE VINEYARD MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND TO IMPROVE WINE QUALITY…
The proposal consists of strategic research and information dissemination projects important for development of Australia's very-cool climate wine industry. These are:
The project consists of four sub-programs. To read more about each program, click on the headings below:
Program 1: Pinot Noir Viticulture & Vinification
Program 2: Sparkling Viticulture & Vinification
Program 3: Tunnel Sprayer Project
Program 4: Establishment of the AWRI Node in Tasmania
Project Timeline
The R&D projects commenced on 1 July 2008 and officially concluded on 30 June 2011. Following the completion of the R&D projects, an international conference will be held in Hobart and will share the results of the R&D undertaken to improve the quality of cool-climate sparkling and pinot noir wines. For more information regarding the conference, click here.