Australia drags its feet over vine louse
Despite the discovery of the vine louse phylloxera in the Yarra Valley, Australian winemakers have not been persuaded to start planting on resistant rootstocks. The pest was discovered in a section of eight-year-old Merlot vines in the Coldstream area in December. A 5km quarantine zone has now been drawn around the vineyard.
Despite many vineyards not being planted on rootstocks in the Yarra, Phil Sexton of Giant Steps winery said: The zone has caused some management issues because we can't move fruit out of the zone to the winery, but generally it's not too big a concern.'
In phylloxera-free South Australia, Neil Pike of Pikes said: Perhaps it's just a matter of time until we see phylloxera with the movement of machines and so on.
I'd be surprised if even 2% of vines were planted on rootstocks in the state because we don't feel threatened; it's too expensive and might affect the quality of fruit.'
Over the Tasman sea, Tamar Ridge's general manager Will Adkins said: We're hoping the tyranny of distance will protect us.'
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