The CSIRO has now released the findings of its DNA profiling of what was thought to be Albarino vine stock from Spain, saying it is in fact Savagnin Blanc (Traminer). Before the announcement, Profitable Viticulture columnist Tony Hoare wrote about the various wine styles that winemakers are producing from the same varieties, such as Zinfandel or Primitivo, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio. International viticulture consultant Dr Richard Smart follows on, lamenting the impact that will be felt by growers who have invested heavily in the Albarino.

The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (AWBC) is undergoing a re-think of how it collects and collates its world benchmark industry statistics, after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) advised it would reduce the content of its grape and wine industry collections and substantially increase cost as a result of a cut in Federal funding. The AWBC’s Knowledge and Development Advisory Committee, staffed by several of the industry’s leaders, is dedicated to working through the process during 2009 to decipher what the industry wants for viticultural and other data, and what the industry is willing to pay for it, so that arrangements with the ABS can be set for future years.

The bushfires that burnt through several of Victoria’s winegrowing regions in February caused damage ranging from loss of property to vineyards suffering varying degrees of smoke taint. Australian Viticulture spoke with researchers at the Australian Wine Research Institute, Vintessential and Chemical Analysis to report on the discoveries from the more than 1500 vine and wine samples tested for smoke taint at that point.

Covercropping is a major feature of the March/April 2009 issue and as assistant editor Sonya Logan discovered via the readers’ survey, 59% of subscribers in areas experiencing drought had been forced to change the management of their mid-rows in recent years. Responses to the survey were received from all States, providing a snapshot of covercrop management in the present climate throughout Australia.

In line with managing mid-rows in the ‘big dry’, also included in the covercropping feature is insight from Yasmin Chalmers of Scholefield Robinson Mildura Pty Ltd to the fundamentals of covercropping for drought conditions; and a report from researchers at the University of Melbourne and University of Adelaide, investigating the use of native grass covercrops to contribute to pest control in vineyards.

Also, don’t miss the latest news from Wine Grape Growers’ Australia in The United Grower, appearing in each issue of Australian Viticulture; Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia entomologist Stewart Learmonth’s report about the impact apple looper moth is having in the State’s vineyards; and the Arneis Varietal Report, introduced by third-generation winemaker Sam Miranda, who is having success with Arneis in his winery’s Myhree vineyard.

To secure your copy of the March/April 2009 Australian Viticulture and have access to the full reports mentioned above and other practical information visit www.winebiz.com.au/ausvit/ or telephone Winetitles on +618 8292 0888. ‹‹ hide

The musings of Dr Richard Smart feature prominently in this issue, starting with the opinion column, where he prophesises on the outlook for the Australian wine industry. Taking a proactive approach, Smart says a review of industry strategies, particularly in terms of export to the UK, is needed to sure up future success. Following the opinion article is the regular ‘Smart Thinking on Viticulture’ column, where Smart takes the opportunity to share his view on the increase in wineries seeking to add an ‘icon’ wine to the portfolio, and gives advice about what is required in the vineyard to produce the necessary quality.

Wine Network Consulting’s Rachel Gore reviews the options available to winemakers in clarifying white winegrape juice, including earth filtration, centrifugation and flotation. Staying with the problem-solving theme, ‘Innovation for Success’ columnists Vince O’Brien and Chris Colby put forward some ideas about how to improve efficiencies for vintage 2010, now that this year’s wine is well in progress.

Leading this issue’s extensive business section, Tony Keys reports on the increase in co-operative ventures in the Australian wine fraternity, giving participants great benefits from pooling resources and increasing opportunities for extended reach in marketing and selling.

The Japanese wine market has been as interesting as it has been volatile for Australian wine for at least the past decade, and as Jonathan Scott says in his column, the careful selection of a Japanese agent can be of tremendous benefits in identifying and accessing the proper distribution channels for wine in this market.

The Wine Industry Journal is pleased to present its readers with the second article from Professor Larry Lockshin and his team at the Wine Marketing Group, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the University of South Australia, studying the development of a new method to measure how consumers choose wine. Once it is better understood what aspects of product and its promotion consumers use to make a purchase decision, wineries and distributors can tailor the marketing push to suit consumer needs. Part 2 of Simone Mueller and Wendy Umberger’s research in the behaviour of Australian cask wine consumers follows this report.

There is a lot more featuring in this Wine Industry Journal for readers to enjoy and as always, if you have any feedback to share with us about the magazine, including topics you want to see more of, then let us know. Contact editor Lauren Jones, telephone +618 8292 0810 or email lauren@winetitles.com.au