WINE connoisseurs could ultimately benefit from a long-term collaborative project.
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A collaboration between the wine industry here and Charles Sturt University with the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre was sealed last week during a workshop at Bago Vineyards.
The National Wine and Grape Industry Centre brings together experts in wine science and viticulture with fully equipped facilities on the Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus.
The centre was formed from an alliance between CSU, NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW Wine Industry Association.
Professor Alain Deloire and Professor Chris Steel met with about 20 winemakers and grape growers from south of Wingham to just north of the Hastings on Wednesday ahead of a public lecture at the Glasshouse.
Prof Deloire said they would work with the local industry to try new varieties, particularly those which were more disease tolerant and could be harvested earlier while retaining fruity wine.
“We have to find a few wine typicalities which will be linked to this area,” he said.
Prof Deloire said they would rely on industry to plant the vines and use best agricultural practices and the academics’ job was more about understanding the dynamic of ripening and the diversity of wine styles.
The diversity of wine styles which can be derived from chambourcin is also on the radar.
Bago Vineyards co-owner Jim Mobbs said the workshop, from his point of view, was a stepping stone into problem solving for the industry and its future direction.
He said it was a good base to start collaborating with Charles Sturt University for the future.
Bago Vineyards has been experimenting with styles in the past.