In this section:
About Viticulture
SARDI's Viticulture science program area is a part of Sustainable Systems research division.
The viticulture science program develops and applies innovative technology through leading edge research and industry support activities that enhance the sustainable and profitable production and marketing of horticulture and viticulture crops for local, national and international markets.
The program is client focused and market driven to deliver directly applicable and readily useable solutions and advanced technologies to underpin the State’s initiatives for economic development and support national grape and wine industry objectives.
Download SARDI's Viticulture group capability statement (.PDF)
Research projects
SARDI Viticulture is a significant Australian research provider of key national programs for the production of wine grapes required for the consistent production of high quality Australian wines. Research disciplines and expertise within SARDI Viticulture include:
- Development of water saving irrigation management systems and application technologies.
- The development of chemical pest and disease management strategies that provide high efficacy with low environmental and fruit quality impacts and management strategies for physiological and viral type disorders of threat to the industry.
- Wine grape nutrition and micronutrient management impacting on wine grape production and quality.
- Vineyard soil health for sustainable production systems including microbial interactions, soil physical and chemical structure, salinity management, irrigation system impacts, nutrient management and inter-row vegetation and management.
- Evaluation and virus testing of wine grape clones for the supply of high quality, high performance planting material to grapevine nurseries.
- Vine nursery management and treatment systems to ensure disease free propogules are provided to producers.
- Wine grape production systems and vineyard management for the production of grapes from cool wet to dry arid climatic production regions.
Research facilities and collaboration
SARDI has laboratories, offices and access to extensive scientific and applied research resources through the Wine Innovation Cluster and Plant Research Centre at the world renowned agri-science precinct at the Waite Campus, Adelaide. Regional research nodes including Nuriootpa and Loxton Research Centres provide the necessary resources for field experimentation and connection to growers. SARDI is also a member of the Riverlink (external link) network of federal and state scientific agencies, located in four research stations throughout the Sunraysia-Riverland region, working together to improve research and development services provided to Australian horticultural industries.
Riverlink includes Waterlink, designed to ensure all information relating to water and drought in the region is readily available to growers and industry bodies.
Riverlink horticultural research and development aims to increase market development, improve energy efficiency, implement mechanisms to cope with climate change, develop new products, create awareness of health benefits, assist biosecurity and encourage innovation.
Co-investment funding for many of the viticulture programs is obtained from the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC) (external site).
SARDI's Viticulture team works in collaboration with the Water Resources and Irrigated Crops team, focusing on sustainable agricultural water management for South Australia.
