Clonal mapping of Pinot Noir

Abstract

The December 2019 bushfire in the Adelaide Hills burnt 35% (235 Ha) of the Pinot Noir planted in the region, including sources of verified propagation material essential for replanting of these vineyards.

Adelaide Hills Vine Improvement Incorporated (AHVII) obtained Wine Australia funding and a PIRSA grant through the South Australian Wine Industry Development Scheme (SAWIDS) to partner with the AWRI to develop a genetic database for commercially relevant Pinot Noir clones so that the identity of alternative sources of planting material could be confirmed. The database would also serve as a reference for clonal verification of all Australian Pinot Noir.

Summary

Pinot Noir is one of the highest value grape varieties in Australia (up to $5,000/t), with sales of grapes contributing $5.7 million per annum to the South Australian wine industry and representing 60% of the value directly generated from Adelaide Hills red grapes. Of the 672 ha of Pinot Noir grown in the region (42% of South Australia’s Pinot Noir), more than 35% was burnt in the December 2019 Cudlee Creek fire. The fire resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 tonnes of grape production and significant losses in revenue for around 60 Adelaide Hills grape and fine wine producers.

Prior to the fires, the Adelaide Hills region had the majority of Pinot Noir source blocks in South Australia. The bushfire destroyed 6 out of 28 source blocks, significantly reducing the supply of high-demand clonal planting material to industry. While potential vineyards for new source blocks were identified, there was a lack of evidence on the provenance of the clonal material, in particular for the sought-after Pinot Noir clone D4V2. Definitive clonal identification of alternative sources of planting material was required.

To address these challenges, a broad range of Pinot Noir germplasm was sequenced, allowing generation of a foundational sequence dataset of Pinot Noir clones used for grape and wine production in the Adelaide Hills, including key clones that were lost due to bushfire damage. The project is a world-first application of state-of-the-art whole genome sequencing for the assessment of genetic diversity in Pinot Noir grapevines.

The results enabled identification of clonal genetic markers for individual Pinot Noir clones and provided the means to identify potential sources of high-confidence germplasm for the re-establishment of source blocks within the Adelaide Hills. This will in turn enhance confidence in replanting investments, facilitate vineyard recovery and improve income for wine producers in the region.