A new generation of mildew-resistant and drought-resilient grapevines has been planted in South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region, marking a significant step toward safeguarding the future of Australia’s wine industry in the face of climate change and escalating disease threats.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and global wine company Treasury Wine Estates (TWE). The first of these innovative vines have been planted at Wynns Coonawarra Estate, a site known for its historic contributions to Australian winemaking.
The newly developed vines combine the genetics of TWE’s heritage grapevines from the Coonawarra and Barossa Valley—renowned for their resilience to extreme climate conditions—with mildew-resistant traits engineered by CSIRO through decades of selective breeding. The research was supported by funding from Wine Australia.
Powdery and downy mildew, two of the most persistent threats to viticulture, cost the Australian wine sector an estimated $160 million annually in management and production losses. Dr. Paul Boss, CSIRO research scientist and project lead, explained that incorporating resistance genes directly into elite vine cultivars equips them with a natural defense mechanism against these pathogens.
“By using traditional breeding methods, we’ve introduced two specific resistance genes into the heritage Wynns vines—one for downy mildew and one for powdery mildew,” said Dr. Boss. “These genes come from our CSIRO-developed breeding lines that offer both disease resistance and other high-quality traits. Having dual resistance makes it far more difficult for pathogens to overcome.”
The heritage vines, which have endured decades of exposure to Australia’s diverse climate extremes—ranging from severe heat to prolonged drought—offered an ideal genetic foundation for breeding more climate-resilient cultivars.
Kerrin Petty, Chief Supply & Sustainability Officer at Treasury Wine Estates, highlighted the broader implications for the global wine sector. “The industry is under increasing pressure to manage grapevine diseases sustainably, all while adapting to the unpredictable effects of climate change,” said Mr. Petty. “By combining time-honored vine genetics with cutting-edge research, we are helping ensure that iconic wines from our Wynns and Penfolds brands can continue to thrive well into the future.”
In addition to improving resilience, the new grapevines are expected to reduce the need for fungicide applications, offering significant environmental benefits. Fewer chemical treatments mean less reliance on diesel-powered equipment, lowering carbon emissions and contributing to more sustainable vineyard practices.
This project exemplifies how scientific innovation can support agricultural adaptation, offering long-term benefits not just to individual vineyards but to the broader Australian wine industry as it confronts environmental and economic challenges.
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