A national approach to grapevine certification

VitiCert Australia is a new, national certification program for grapevine planting material. It is designed to give grape and wine producers greater confidence in the vines they plant when establishing a vineyard, while supporting suppliers to adopt the latest knowledge and best-practice production methods.  

VitiCert was officially launched in May 2026. It is expected the first cuttings certified under the program will be available from winter 2028. Eventually, this page will become the central hub for information, updates and resources. 

What is VitiCert?

VitiCert is a science-based certification system that will apply across the entire grapevine propagation supply chain — from grapevine collections and source blocks through to nurseries and the planting material delivered to growers.  

Planting material supplied under the VitiCert trademark will be produced and verified against a nationally consistent standard and be independently audited.

What will VitiCert provide?

VitiCert is focused on improving the quality, health and integrity of planting material — the factors that are not always visible at planting but can shape vineyard performance for decades.  

When fully implemented, VitiCert will support the production of vines that are: 

• True-to-type, with verified genetic identity
• Tested and managed to minimise economically significant viruses
• Produced using best-practice hygiene and disease prevention standards
• Of a consistent physical quality to support reliable vineyard establishment 

Why certification matters

Establishing a vineyard is a major, long-term investment. Issues introduced at planting — such as virus infection, trunk disease or incorrect varietal identity — may take years to become evident and are often costly to address.  

Using certified planting material can help to: 

• Reduce the risk of poor establishment and uneven vine growth
• Improve confidence and predictability of vineyard performance
• Protect capital invested at planting
• Support grape yield and fruit quality outcomes
• Extend the productive life of a vineyard 

VitiCert provides a practical way for growers to reduce risk at one of the most important decision points — establishing a new vineyard.  

How the program will work

VitiCert is designed as a national, independently-audited certification system that will apply across the propagation supply chain.  

Key elements include: 

• Certification from source material through to nurseries and purchasers
• Independent auditing against a national standard (Grapevine Nursery Stock Specification)
• Clear identification of certified material at the point of sale
• Voluntary participation for both suppliers and growers

Program development

VitiCert Australia is supported by Wine Australia, will be steered by an industry-based Standards Committee and delivered through Greenlife Industry Australia — the national peak body for Australia’s nursery industry. 

The program is being developed to be: 

• Independently governed and audited
• Financially sustainable
• Adaptable as industry needs and research evolve 

Timing and next steps

VitiCert launched in May 2026 and is currently being established across industry.  

Key milestones include: 

• Establishment of the Australian Grapevine Standards Committee
• Development of the Grapevine Nursery Stock Specification
• Establishment of governance and auditing processes
• Support for businesses choosing to participate in the program
• Availability of the first Viti Certified cuttings, expected from winter 2028

Why now? 

Increasing disease pressure, biosecurity risks and expectations around traceability have highlighted the need for a consistent, modern approach to grapevine certification.  

VitiCert builds on decades of industry investment in research and development to create a durable, national system that supports better vineyard establishment decisions now and into the future.  

Looking ahead

As VitiCert evolves, this page will be updated with further information for growers, nurseries and other stakeholders, including participation pathways, technical guidance and program updates.

Further information

Dr Sharon Harvey
Senior R&I Program Manager
sharon.harvey@wineaustralia.com