EMERGING GRAPE VARIETIES Ashley Ratcliff/ James Freckleton/ Nick Dry The Yalumba Wine Company

VARIETIES OF INTEREST Vermentino Tempranillo Montepulciano Fiano Verdejo Nero d’Avola

Selection Reasons 1.Market interest 2.Suitability to a changing climate 3.Point of difference

Vermentino Traditionally grown in Sardinia & the Liguria Coast (believed to have originated from Spain) Also known as Rolle in France Two clones currently available – H62.LN & VCR1 Yalumba Nursery releasing ENTAV clone in 2013 Known incompatibilities – 420 A Heat tolerant Big berries and bunches Early budburst – late ripening Small plantings exist in Australia (increasing in popularity)

Vermentino

Tempranillo Spanish grape variety (predominant region of growth is Rioja) Currently available clones – D8V12, D8V13 & Tinta Roriz Yalumba Nursery releasing 6 new clones in 2013 Tendency to be a biannual? Capacity to produce heavy crops Average budburst and early harvest Ripening issues An established variety Wrattonbully trial

Smart, R.E (2008) Creating an Australian Vega Sicilia. The Australian & New Zealand Wine Industry Journal. Vol 23 No 3. p12-15 RegionRain Index Max Index Min Index Av Index Max Match Min Match MJT (ºC) Valladolid (Spain) Ideal 21.4 Canberra Airport AcceptableVery Good 20.4 Bendigo Airport Acceptable 21.3 Barthurst Ag AcceptableVery Good 20.5 Orange Post Office AcceptableVery Good 20.3 Wrattonbully20.4

Tempranillo

2 Bud Spur All 1 Bud 2 Bud Spur per position thumb & Finger 3 Bud & 1 Bud alternating Sawn

Montepulciano Probably originates from the Tuscan town of Montepulciano Clones – SAVII01 & FSAC Budburst medium to late Harvest late – may not be suited to cool regions Can have set problems Disease resistance good Produces high colour/phenolic wines Only small planting exist in Australia

Montepulciano

Fiano Originates from Campania (near Naples) Clones – VRC3, SAVII01 & Merbein Budburst early/ mid-season Harvest relatively late for a white variety Prone to wind damage Tendency to produce a second crop Heat tolerant – does not tend to burn Highly tolerant to diseases? Interest increasing Dry.P (2007) Performance under hot conditions makes Fiano an attractive proposition. The Australian & New Zealand Wine Industry Journal. Vol 22 No 6. p 20-21

Fiano

Verdejo White Spanish variety – found in the Rueda region Possibly suited to warm regions were varieties like Sauvignon Blanc are less likely to produce strong variety characteristic Bunches are medium-sizes Yalumba Nursery releasing material in 2013

Nero d’Avola Originates from Sicily Grown in a hot/ dry climate Heat/ drought tolerant Incompatible with & 420A High vigour variety Budburst medium Harvest medium-late High colour/ phenolic wines Very small planting in Australia

Nero d’Avola

Potential Problems Understanding –need to manage differently to existing varieties (viticulture/ winemaking) Some varieties may require shoot and or bunch thinning even in hot climates Poor site selection Clean planting material Availability of planting material Market acceptance