Australia: La Trobe University has developed Wine Industry Smoke Detectors to support vineyard owners affected by bushfires, providing real-time data on smoke taint risks. This could save millions in discarded grapes and reshape the future of winemaking amidst climate challenges.
In recent years, bushfires have posed a significant threat to Australia’s wine industry, devastating entire vineyards and leading to the widespread discarding of grapes previously thought to be tainted. However, the development of innovative technology by La Trobe University may soon change this narrative, offering a lifeline to winegrowers affected by smoke exposure during and after these catastrophic events.
During the summer of 2019-2020, extensive bushfires in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales had alarming consequences, not just incinerating vines but also emitting smoke that compromised grape quality, rendering many batches unsaleable. As winemakers grappled with the potential for smoke taint, it was estimated that between $100 and $150 million worth of grapes were discarded unnecessarily during trials of the sensor technology meant to assess the risk of such taint.
The newly developed Wine Industry Smoke Detectors (WISDs), affectionately referred to as ‘wizards,’ are designed to monitor smoke events and provide real-time data on whether grapes are at risk of taint. This technology is a result of a decade-long research effort led by Professor Ian Porter, who has collaborated with various partners, including Wine Australia, to create a model that links smoke exposure to the actual risk of taint in wine.
“It’s one of the reasons we developed the WISDs,” Professor Porter stated. He explained that the findings from their research have illuminated misconceptions surrounding smoke exposure and its effects on grape quality. “Growers think that all smoke causes smoke taint, but data collected by our team has for the first time globally linked the amount of fresh smoke needed in vineyards to smoke taint in the bottle.”
The WISDs employ a network of prototype smoke loggers that have been strategically deployed across vineyards, particularly in North-East Victoria, allowing for enhanced accuracy in assessing smoke impact. The sensors operate similarly to air quality monitors, calculating risk ratings based on a database compiled from extensive experimentation, including over 70 controlled burns and several major bushfires.
Data collected by these sensors relate to several critical factors for assessing smoke taint, such as burn conditions, the proximity of vineyards to a smoke source, grape variety, and exposure timing within the growing season. These data points are processed to yield a traffic light risk rating for smoke taint, which vineyard managers can access in real-time through a mobile application or designated website.
Goanna Ag, an Australian agricultural technology provider, has partnered with La Trobe University to commercialise the WISDs over the next two years. Jock Ferguson, the Winegrape Business Development Lead at Goanna Ag, stated, “We are particularly excited to be involved in the commercialisation of the WISDs. They are a vital industry breakthrough with appeal to stakeholders throughout the grape and wine sector in Australia as well as winegrowing regions around the world.”
The implications of this technology extend beyond immediate financial concerns; it provides winegrowers with essential tools to alleviate the uncertainty and stress associated with smoke events. As Professor Porter concluded, “Having results in real time greatly reduces stress for growers and winemakers and allows them to market their grapes and produce wine with confidence.”
With the establishment of a robust sensor network and ongoing validation processes, the WISDs promise to reshape how the Australian wine industry approaches the challenges posed by bushfires, potentially safeguarding countless harvests and preserving the legacy of some of the world’s finest wines.
Source: Noah Wire Services
