Testing botrytis management options for wine grapes

Project details

Status: Current

At a glance

  • The TIA project team is working with producers to design and conduct simple in-vineyard trials to better manage botrytis bunch rot disease.
  • The trials directly support business decisions about new or adapted viticultural practices and botrytis management.
  • Eleven Tasmanian vineyards participated in botrytis trials in 2023/24 and/or 2024/25.
  • Results are shared among other participants and the broader wine producing sector to highlight successes and practical implementation.

About the project

Botrytis bunch rot (‘botrytis’) continues to be a major production constraint at many sites in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania has received a grant from the Tasmanian Government’s Agricultural Develop Fund to deliver the Botrytis Project.  The official project title is Fast-tracking solutions for reliable and climate-responsive wine grape production.

The project team worked closely with collaborating producers to design and conduct simple on-vineyard trials. Collaborators were invited to select a botrytis management practices to test and find out what works best on their unique site.

The TIA project team supported producers during the trial from idea to data collection and interpretation. The team also facilitated the sharing of trial results among project participants and the broader sector to highlight successes and practical implementation. Commercially sensitive data and information was protected as requested or required.

In-vineyard trials - a vineyard managers experience

Winemaker Dr Andrew Pirie AM, Apogee, shares his experience of running an in-vineyard trial.
Kate Hill from Kate Hill Wines shares her experience of in-vineyard trials
Izaak Perkins, Ghost Rock Vineyard, shares his experience of running in-vineyard trials
Kathy Evans (TIA) talks about how in vineyard trial work in practice

Instructional video

Professor Kathy Evans (TIA) describes how to assess disease in a vineyard.

Project Updates

Resources

For more information contact:

Professor Kathy Evans

Acknowledgements:

The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania has received a grant from the Tasmanian Government’s Agricultural Develop Fund to deliver this project.