Overview
This report documents work funded from residual 2006–2013 investment agreement funds, including extension, regional node capacity and capital purchases. Practical outputs included a free AWRI Refrigeration Demand Calculator to model winery refrigeration demand. In Shiraz, oxygen exposure during rotary fermentation reduced volatile sulfur compounds linked to reductive aromas; early copper addition reduced their impact less, and aerative racking had little effect. Early oxygen exposure also accelerated stable colour development. A metagenomics study of Chardonnay wild ferments showed non-Saccharomyces yeasts declined during fermentation, and high sulfite removed them entirely. New and old oak barrels gave similar Shiraz phenolic profiles after six months, and preliminary data suggested a link between Hunter Valley soil types and Semillon juice phenolics.
This project aimed to aid AWRI to transition from the 2006-2013 (7 year) Agreement to the 2013-2017 Agreement. The funding was residual unspent money from the 7 year Agreement. All objectives have been achieved. Specifically; extension activities were conducted and capacity in AWRI nodes in Griffith, Hunter Valley and Tasmania was maintained pending approval of new Node activities; a proof of principle metagenomics study was successfully completed, demonstrating the effect of winemaking intervention on the genetic diversity of wild wine fermentations; work on the formation and fate of sulfidic off-aromas in bottled red wines has been completed, highlighting the potential to positively impact on wine quality through oxygen management in and copper additions to rotary fermenters; and the acquisition of approved capital items and small capital items has been completed. Significant practical outputs of benefit to the Australian grape and wine industry include enhancements to the RTP module on Refrigeration with the addition of case studies developed by the Riverina Node; and fact sheets, case studies and calculators relating to heat transfer and refrigeration and bioenergy available via the AWRI website (www.awri.com.au).
Abstract
All objectives have been achieved and the Transitionary Activities are complete. Specifically; • extension activities were conducted through the AWRI Nodes, including enhancements to the Research to Practice module on Refrigeration with the addition of case studies developed by the Riverina Node; • a proof of principle metagenomics study was successfully completed, demonstrating the effect of winemaking intervention on the genetic diversity of wild wine fermentations; • work on the formation and fate of sulfidic off-aromas in bottled red wines has been completed, highlighting the potential to positively impact on wine quality through oxygen management in and copper additions to rotary fermenters; and • the acquisition of approved capital items and small capital items has been completed.
