The project to establish a National Vineyard Register to improve the Australian grape and wine sector’s understanding of its supply base of winegrapes to support better decision-making by winegrowers is nearing the end of its first 12 months.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of a $3.5 million industry support package, the first objective of the project is to develop a framework for a national vineyard register that would provide data on the area of bearing and non-bearing vines, the age profile of vines, varieties planted and location by geographical indication.
A first draft of the framework is nearing completion following a consultation process with the sector which comprised dozens of responses recieved by written submission, by phone, in person and in an online workshop with inland growers and grower representatives. Existing agricultural registers and databases have also been reviewed.
Wine Australia senior analyst Sandy Hathaway, who is coordinating the development of the register, said the key themes from the consultation process are being used to inform the next phase of the project.
“While there was a wide range of opinions, consistent themes included minimising the extra burden on growers, looking at various options for gathering existing data to avoid duplication, ensuring that benefits for growers are clear and creating something that could be expanded in future.
“We expect to have a first draft of the framework ready for consideration by the end of June. We are also continuing with related activities to support this work, including identifying requirements for data standards, reviewing existing datasets that could be incorporated into the register and evaluating options for conducting a national vineyard scan to underpin the register,” she said.