Board members The company Passion • Enthusiasm for our people, our industry, and Ms L.E. Rose BAppSc, BSc, GAICD The Australian Wine Research Institute Ltd was our products Chair – Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) incorporated on 27 April 1955. It is a company lim- of the Constitution (levy payer elected director) ited by guarantee that does not have a share capital. • Spirit of creativity Mr J.C. Angove, BSc The Constitution of The Australian Wine • Enjoying work and celebrating achievements Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) (levy Research Institute Ltd (AWRI) sets out in broad payer elected director) terms the aims of the AWRI. The AWRI’s activities • Desire to do better are guided by its business and research, devel- Mr. T.J. Bekkers BAppSc (Ag) (Hons), GCertMgt opment and extension plans, and its stated • Pursuing knowledge and understanding Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the mission, values and behaviours: Constitution (from 1 January 2014) (levy payer The AWRI’s laboratories and offices are housed elected director) Mission in the Wine Innovation Central Building within Supporting the Australian grape and wine an internationally renowned research cluster on Mr J.F. Brayne, BAppSc (Wine Science) industry through world class research, practical the Waite Research Precinct at Urrbrae in the Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the solutions and knowledge transfer. Adelaide foothills. Grape and wine scientists Constitution (levy payer elected director) from other organisations are co-located with the Values AWRI in the Wine Innovation Central Building. Mr P.D. Conroy, LLB (Hons), BComm The AWRI’s values provide guidance in how it Elected a member under clause 25.2(b) of the will deliver its mission. These values are: The Waite Research Precinct is also home to Constitution (special qualifications director) other research and teaching organisations • Excellence including: Australian Centre for Plant Functional Mr P.J. Dawson, BSc, BAppSc (Wine Science) Genomics (ACPFG), Australian Genome Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the • Integrity Research Facility (AGRF), Australian Grain Constitution (until 31 December 2013) (levy payer Technologies (AGT), Australian Plant Phenomics elected director) • Passion Facility, the Centre of Excellence in Plant Elected a member under clause 25.2(b) of the Cell Walls, CSIRO, South Australian Research Constitution (from 1 January 2014 – 24 February Behaviours and Development Institute (SARDI) and the 2014) (special qualifications director) The behaviours that support those values are: University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. Dr J.S. Harvey, BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD Excellence Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the • Outcomes focused, delivering results Registered office Constitution (levy payer elected director) Cnr Hartley Grove and Paratoo Road, • Personal mastery – being the best one can be Urrbrae, SA 5064 Dr D.L. Johnson, BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD Ex officio under clause 25.2(a) of the Constitution • Asking and answering the right questions Postal Address: as Managing Director of the AWRI • Relevant to industry PO Box 197, Glen Osmond, SA 5064 Mr B.M. McKinnon, BAgSc (Oenology) (Hons) Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the • Collaborating to achieve faster, better or Telephone: (08) 8313 6600 Constitution (levy payer elected director) cheaper outcomes Fax: (08) 8313 6601 Mrs E.A. Riley, BAppSc (Wine Science) Integrity Elected a member under clause 25.2 (b) of the • Accountability to stakeholders Internet: www.awri.com.au Constitution (special qualifications director) • Dealing honestly, impartially and consistently Facebook: www.facebook.com/The.AWRI Prof. B.P. Schmidt AC, FAA, FRS, BS (Astronomy), BS (Physics), AM (Astronomy), PhD • Scientific and professional rigour Twitter: www.twitter.com/The_AWRI Elected a member under clause 25.2(c) of the Constitution (from 25 February 2014) (special ABN: 83 007 558 296 qualifications director) Mr M.R. Watson, BEc, MBA, ACA, IPAA , MAICD Elected a member under clause 25.2(b) of the Constitution (special qualifications director) Peppercorn vineyard cover art The 2014 cover art is inspired by the publication this year of a map of the Creative Director Geoffrey Reed and Senior Designer Phil Easson collabo- distribution of rotundone (the ‘pepper’ compound) in a Shiraz vineyard. rated with ‘Seed Artist’ Scott Cardamatis to render a vineyard made entirely Results suggest that the spatial variability is linked to degree of grape of peppercorns for this special wrap around cover. ripeness, soil characteristics and ambient temperature or solar radiation. This is believed to be the first study of within-vineyard spatial variability Scott sculpts Australian seed pods and flowers to create designer artwork of a key grape-derived flavour compound. It highlights a potential opportu- and his quest for originality with sustainability meant using Australian nity to use viticultural practices to influence wine style – in this case the Shiraz and other wines to literally dye some of the peppercorns to achieve ‘pepperiness’ of Shiraz. The ‘pepper mapping’ study was conducted with some of the special colours required. Dr Rob Bramley of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and the late Nathan Scarlett of Rathbone Wine Group. Photograph of the peppercorn vineyard by Tom Ferguson. www.tfad.com.au Contents Chair’s report 2 Managing Director’s report 3 Board notes 6 Highlights of the year 2013–2014 8 Staff 11 Staff activities 15 Status of projects in the AWRI’s 5-year RD&E plan 16 Progress reports 18 Environment and sustainability 18 Consumers, customers and markets 19 Improving products and processes 22 Extension and adoption 35 Service capabilities and foundational datasets 45 Commercial Services 48 Financial statements – directors’ report 50 Financial statements 53 Notes to and forming part of the financial statements 55 Memorial funds 62 Appendix 1 – External presentations and talks 64 Appendix 2 – Workshops organised by AWRI staff 74 Appendix 3 – Posters 76 Appendix 4 – Teaching responsibilities (lectures) of AWRI staff 79 Appendix 5 – Student supervision responsibilities of AWRI staff 80 Appendix 6 – Media interviews 80 Appendix 7 – Papers published by AWRI staff recorded during 2013/2014 82 60th Annual Report – 30 June 2014 Presented to the Australian grape and wine sector AWRI Annual Report 2014 1 Chair’s report I’d also like to welcome the two newest Board Another new area of activity is the delivery of viti- Louisa Rose members, Toby Bekkers and Prof. Brian Schmidt, culture extension activities on behalf of the NSW who joined the Board during the year. Toby is a Department of Primary Industries. This project will viticulturist, consultant and business manager involve the commissioning of ten new weather from McLaren Vale with more than 20 years’ stations in Griffith and Mudgee which will pro- experience in our industry. Brian is Laureate vide real-time reporting via the AWRI’s website. Fellow and Distinguished Professor at the Drawing on the data gathered by this network, a Australian National University’s Mount Stromlo fortnightly bulletin with information on weather, Observatory and also runs Maipenrai Vineyard vine phenology and pest and disease risks will be and Winery in the Canberra District. The per- distributed to growers and winemakers during the spectives they have both contributed to the growing season. Field days and workshops will Board have been very valuable. also form part of the project. The AWRI is now one year into its 5-year RD&E Both of these initiatives build on the AWRI’s plan. This first year has been one of estab- existing extension expertise and information lishment for a number of important research resources that grape and wine producers have projects, setting the foundations for future been accessing for many decades. They add to experiments, gathering important initial data- the scope of information that is delivered and sets and implementing plans. Despite most may potentially reach new stakeholders. The projects being in their early stages, a number winning of grants and tenders in this area is a of interesting results have emerged during the strong endorsement of the AWRI as the indus- year. These include insights into the influence of try’s trusted source of technical information. timing of oxygen exposure, new understanding This report is my first as Chair of the Board of the of the role of metals in formation of reductive In terms of the industry landscape, the forma- Australian Wine Research Institute. Having served characters and an exciting new method for ana- tion of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority on the Board since 2010, and collaborated with the lysing grape tannin in a way that better predicts from the merger of the GWRDC and Wine AWRI for many years before that, I am delighted the final wine tannin. More details of these and Australia Corporation is a positive change. It to take up this new role. I strongly believe that other research outcomes from the year can, of brings with it opportunities for enhanced col- research and technical innovation are essential for course, be found in this report. laboration and perhaps new possibilities for our industry to meet its current challenges and research to be better integrated with marketing. achieve sustainable success. The AWRI and its peo- Extension activities have been at an all-time The AWRI Board looks forward to collaborating ple are in a position to make a real contribution in high during the year, with an AWRI event deliv- with the new AGWA Board on directions for this area and it is both exciting and humbling to be ered somewhere across Australia on average grape and wine research in Australia. involved in influencing its future direction. once per week. The combination of on-the- ground events with printed and electronic Implementing a new plan always takes con- I would like to start by acknowledging the enor- communications allows excellent reach and siderable effort and dedication.