Travel support for Glenn McGourty, Extension Specialist, UC Davis

Abstract

Viticultural production systems in California and Australia share many similarities. Sustainability in its broadest sense is a core focus in both production environments, and lessons learned are regularly traded between the countries. Dr Glenn McGourty, an extension specialist with the University of California (Davis), has broad-ranging viticultural expertise as a winegrape grower and researcher. His recent visit to Australia, funded by industry through Wine Australia, acted as a catalyst for several regional groups to access his expertise in conjunction with workshops and field days. Over his three week visit, about 280 industry personnel and students heard Glenn speak on topics such as Organic and Regenerative Viticulture and Frost Mitigation. Feedback from attendees was very positive, and the potential for changes in management practice, as a result of the forums is strong. Strong bilateral research links have also been forged, with the intention of ongoing information exchange between investigators undertaking similar programs in the two countries.

Summary

Winegrape growing in Australia continues to provide many challenges for producers, not least of which is economic viability. An option for some is the transition to organic certification, which for many would involve little if any change to management practices. The interest in this potential is considerable, and regions such as McLaren Vale are now leading the nation in the proportion of viticultural land certified organic and/or biodynamic. Areas such as the Riverland, where substantial premiums for organic fruit are provided, are well suited to certification. Dr Glenn McGourty has broad-ranging viticultural expertise as a grapegrower, applied scientist and extension service provider though the University of California. His specialty areas include organic viticulture, cover cropping, frost and drought mitigation and Mediterranean grape varieties. To provide industry personnel and students with the expertise offered by Glenn, funding was provided by Wine Australia to support his visit to Australia. This enabled him to present at the 16th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference ‘Organics’ workshop, the Waite Institute and five regional groups during his three week visit. His availability also provided the catalyst for the regions to involve other speakers and activities, enabling information exchange beyond the Californian experience. During his visit about 280 industry personnel and students heard Glenn present information on Organic and Regenerative Viticulture and Drought and Frost Mitigation. The reach of his audience was extended following interviews at Clare by the ABC Country Hour and in Renmark by ABC Local radio. In addition to his presentations, Glenn was very interested in research investigating undervine cover cropping to improve soil quality and reduce weed populations without reducing yields. A tasting of wine produced from grapes harvested at the Nuriootpa trial site confirmed for him that in the first year at least wine quality had improved on some treatments. Similar trials will now be conducted in California to determine whether the results can be replicated there.