The wine industry in Australia is taking significant steps to combat the impact of smoke taint, a major concern during bushfire seasons. A new project, led by La Trobe University and funded by Wine Australia, aims to validate and scale up the use of Wine Industry Smoke Detectors (WISDs) across the country. These detectors can play a decisive role in managing the risk of smoke taint in vineyards, which can lead to substantial financial losses due to compromised grape quality.
The project will focus on upgrading the existing WISDs and deploying them beyond their current use in North-East Victoria. By expanding the network of these detectors, the initiative seeks to provide a more comprehensive and reliable prediction service for smoke taint. This will enable vineyard managers to make informed decisions and take timely actions to protect their crops.
The enhanced smoke taint prediction service will utilise advanced technology to monitor and analyse smoke exposure in real-time. This data will be used to predict the potential impact on grapevines and guide mitigation strategies. The project also aims to develop user-friendly tools and resources to help growers understand and manage smoke taint risks effectively.
By improving the accuracy and accessibility of smoke taint predictions, this initiative has the potential to save the wine industry millions of dollars in lost production. It represents a significant advancement in the field of viticulture, providing growers with the tools they need to safeguard their crops and maintain the quality of their produce.
More information
For more details, read the full article. https://www.wineaustralia.com/research_and_innovation/projects/validation-and-scale-up-of-a-national-smoke-taint-prediction-service
Acknowledgements:
- This article was peer-reviewed by Tom Flanagan and Andy Clarke, Wine Australia.
- Main image: Smoke inundates a vineyard. Washington State University
