Major Research Agreements
The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation cannot make a difference without the critical partnerships and co-investments that are made every day in R&D by the participants in the wine industry.
The range of partnerships with R&D providers developed by the GWRDC enables a combination of applied and strategic R&D to be undertaken with benefits flowing to industry, the environment and the community.
Currently the GWRDC's two major research investments are with the Australian Wine Research Institute, and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre.
Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI)
This partnership involves funding support for the delivery of wine industry-endorsed outcomes identified in the AWRI 7-Year R,D & E Plan 2006 - 2013. The research Themes contained in the Plan include Streams and Projects focusing on:
Grape and wine composition
Improving definition and control of wine composition and quality to better meet product specifications and consumer expectations, and to enable targeted improvements to production processes
Grape and wine production
Enhancing efficiency and profitability across the production chain through innovative winemaking technology
Wine in society
Enhancing the triple bottom line positioning of the Australian wine industry
Information and knowledge transfer
Maintaining our technological advantage by building the information, knowledge and skills base of industry personnel
The AWRI is located in a new, purpose-built research laboratory facility at the Waite campus of the University of Adelaide at Urrbrae, which is shared with other members of the Wine Innovation Cluster (CSIRO Plant Industry, SARDI, University of Adelaide).
National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC)
Through a partnership with Charles Sturt University, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Wine Industry Association, the GWRDC supports the NWGIC research program through a 5 year funding agreement for the Winegrowing Futures Program. The Program comprises R, D & E activities in the following areas:
Project Management and Industry Linkage
Application of best practice management and rapid implementation of outcomes of research projects
Vine Health and the Environment (Protecting Yield)
Bot canker
Bunch rots
Young vine decline
Multiseasonal Impacts on Vine Productivity and Grape Composition
Heat stress
Vine nutrition
Vascular transport
Optimising Resource Use and Protecting the Environment
Improving vineyard water use efficiency
Predictive modelling of grapevine production using remote sensing techniques
Vine physiology
Matching Wine Composition to Consumers
Sensory science
Viticultural research
Wine chemistry
Knowledge Management and Industry Capacity Building
Transfer of knowledge to industry practice and increasing the rate of change
The headquarters of the NWGIC are based at the Wagga Wagga (NSW) campus of the Charles Sturt University.
