Western Australian Vine Improvement Association
Jim Campbell-Clause, Chairman’s Report
Feb 2019 to Jan 2020
The Western Australian Vine Improvement Association (WAVIA) enters the new decade with optimism that the wine industry in Western Australia will see some growth and that the table grape industry continues to grow with new varieties.
WAVIA continues to rely on a very small team of dedicated volunteers and assistance from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). I would like to thank those on the committee from industry and DPIRD. I would especially like to thank Chris Harding, Patrick Bertola and Colleen Gillespie for all their hard work on ensuring propagation material that is ordered and collected is clean, true to type, and is distributed in a timely fashion, and that the propagation material performs well. Thanks also to Stephen Kirby, Lyn Metcalf, Jock Riddel and Lee Haselgrove for their contribution to the management committee. We welcome Steve Partridge from ARM Nurseries as a new nursery representative to the committee.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the valuable input that WAVIA has received from Diana Fisher over many years. Diana has been very important in maintaining the records and integrity of the state Germplasm collection. Diana’s role has changed within DPIRD, and we are sad that she is no longer involved with the industry or WAVIA. We are very grateful for Diana’s input over the years and wish her all the best in the future. We are very grateful to Richard Fennessy from DPIRD and staff for their support and assistance. Richard has done a great job supporting WAVIA, helping at meetings and with research and extension. Many thanks to Ian Guthridge, manager of the Horticulture Research Institute in Manjimup for his team’s work with the Germplasm collection, and with assistance with cutting and distribution of propagation material.
Orders in 2019 totalled 11,458 that were able to be filled. Orders were delivered to the regions of Swan Valley, Margaret River, Pemberton, Geographe, Perth Hills, the Wheatbelt and Victoria. Most orders were able to be filled from source blocks, but the Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute was an important source of Germplasm material.
Orders this year were of improved clones of traditional varieties including Pinot Noir, Gamay, Malbec, Grenache, Tempranillo and Cabernet. WAVIA had orders for many alternative varieties, including; Alicante Bouschet, Sciacarello, Lagrain, Saparavi, Savignin Blanc, Souzao, Touriga, Ansonica, Petit Manseng, Bastardo, Montepulciano, Grüner Veltliner, Brachetto, Fiano, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Mataro and Aligote. WAVIA received orders for rootstocks including 1103 Paulsen, 110 Richter, Ramsey, 101-14 Millardet, 140 Ruggeri, 5C Teleki, Freedom and Schwartzmann WA5 and some table grape varieties.
Colleen Gillespie did a great job of collecting, packing and dispatching all the material for the orders. Interstate customers were again important, and the new ordering process for interstate customers made this more efficient.
Source blocks continue to be important sources of propagation material, and WAVIA is keen to continue to work with growers to develop new source blocks. If you are planting new clones or varieties and are interested in planting a source block to help generate some revenue, please discuss this with a WAVIA representative. WAVIA is keen to source an industry repository for Gingin Chardonnay and has advertised for industry support.
The WA Germplasm collection will be bolstered with the reintroduction of Gamay Bests and Gamay 87, Pinot Noir Mariafeld, Sauvignon Blanc 5385 and Traminer after virus testing. WAVIA is looking into the importation of new clones and varieties including Agleanico, Zweigelt and Schavkapito. The WA Grape Germplasm Collection and Alternative Variety Block at Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute continues to be well managed by the staff at DPIRD with help from WAVIA.
Research and development continue to be an important activity of the association, and we are pleased to report on some projects promoting vine improvement. WAVIA is excited by the project Richard Fennessy is doing with funding from Wine Australia Regional Program, looking at the clonal influence of different varieties including Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo on wine attributes.
AVIA continue to keep in touch with national issues and is supportive of re-establishment of a national vine improvement peak body and acknowledge the work of Prue Henschke and Libby Tassie. WAVIA has supported national work on GPGV and is supportive of the R&D work on viruses and a national grapevine register.
The wine and grape industries look to have a positive outlook, and WAVIA is keen to help by providing high quality true to type propagation of new clones and varieties. As I have said before, I see this as the most proactive step producers can use to improve yield and quality, and profitability, and to keep Western Australia producing better wine than our competitors. WAVIA will continue to look at importing new and improved varieties and clones demanded by industry.
For further information on WAVIA visit the website.