Region in Focus: Tasmania

Wine Tasmania held a successful field-day at the Jansz Parish vineyard in November as part of its AGWA-funded Regional Program activity.

Jansz had expanded the vineyard with extensive new plantings. Participants were shown steel posts (Eco trellis) that were used throughout the expansion, along with certified planting material that will ensure good growth and reduce disease risk. Site selection and preparation were also topics of discussion, both critical factors in successful and sustainable viticulture, particularly in Tasmania where drainage and reducing frost risk are priorities.

With Pinot Noir making up 45 per cent of Tasmania’s vineyard area and used for both sparkling and table wine production, Nick Dry and Paul Smart presented at the field-day on the characteristics and benefits of using different Pinot Noir clones and rootstocks to manage flavour profiles, yield (both tonnes and temporal distribution), site issues and biosecurity.

Participants saw how different clones and rootstocks were behaving on two vineyards and also tasted wines made from four clones across two different rootstocks.

Tasmanian vineyards use nets to prevent damage and loss from birds. However the long ripening times in the region mean that the nets can be on for a very long time, so it is critical to have undertaken practices during the season to reduce disease risk.

Presentations by experts from the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) and the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) provided a thorough understanding of the risks of diseased fruit, as well as the strategies and techniques that may be used to mitigate such a risk.

Later in the year, Wine Tasmania will present sessions on water budgeting and yield stabilisation, including a hands-on session on bud dissection.