Fruit Quality

Botrytis bunch rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, continues to be one of the most economically significant diseases in wine production. Even in regions that are not consistently humid, short periods of rainfall combined with dense canopies and prolonged leaf wetness can create ideal infection windows. The consequences are well known: yield loss, reduced sugar accumulation, compromised flavour development, and oxidative instability in the winery. As sustainability expectations r

Post-harvest is not a shutdown phase — it is a reserve accumulation phase. Once fruit is removed, the vine reallocates photosynthate and nutrients into trunks, cordons, and roots. These reserves determine spring vigour, bud fertility, early shoot growth, and resilience under stress.

Hot and dry weather events have become increasingly common across Australian wine regions, prompting questions from grapegrowers about the impacts on vine performance and fruit quality and what management strategies might help mitigate negative effects. Sunburn and Berry Damage All grapevine varieties are susceptible to sunburn, though the degree of susceptibility varies with variety and canopy condition. Exposure to high temperatures post-veraison is particularly damaging be

Deficit irrigation is a precision water management strategy that imposes controlled water stress on grapevines during defined phenological stages to optimize berry composition and ultimately wine quality.