CSIRO is working with Australia's grape industries to develop new and improved grapevine varieties.
CSIRO is developing improved table, dried and wine grape varieties, as well as rootstocks that are better adapted to Australian conditions.
Grapevine breeding program
CSIRO maintains a major grapevine germplasm collection of many varieties and species at its Merbein site near Mildura in the border region of NSW and Victoria. This collection underpins a grapevine breeding program that began in the 1960s.
The breeding program addresses industry-based and market-focused objectives for table and dried grapes and continues to evaluate new wine grapes.
We are also conducting a rootstock breeding program with the aim of developing improved genotypes suited to Australian conditions for viticulture.
Wine grapes
CSIRO’s grape breeding program addresses industry-based and market-focussed objectives for dried, table and wine grapes.
In the wine industry, the variety Tarrango developed by CSIRO is a leading export variety for the winemaking company Brown Brothers. The variety Tyrian has shown promise as a varietal wine and is under ongoing evaluation by both Riverina and NSW Hunter Valley wine companies.
Cienna is an emerging variety for Brown Brothers. A fourth variety, called Rubienne, is in development.
CSIRO's research with wine company co-investment shows potential to deliver new early ripening red varieties and wines for the Asian market.
Dried grapes
Most of the Australian dried-grape industry relies on CSIRO-selected clones and varieties. These include the:
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standard Sultana H5 clone
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rain-tolerant currant variety Carina
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rain-tolerant sultana type, Sunmuscat (a joint development with the United States Department of Agriculture).
Table grapes
CSIRO's table grape breeding program has released:
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Maroo seedless, a large seedless black grape
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M 51-18, an early ripening seeded, muscat flavoured grape
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M 13-01, a seedless black grape with tapered berries and vivid green bunch stems.
Rootstocks
The rootstock breeding program has identified a number of promising low to medium vigour varieties which have been made available to industry for more extensive evaluation with different scion varieties in different regions.
The program is continuing with an emphasis on tolerance of Phylloxera and nematodes, salt and drought tolerance, stock-scion compatibility and water use efficiency.
CSIRO regularly reviews the grape-breeding program, and discusses strategic directions with industry.
Related information sheets
Related scientific papers
Read more about CSIRO's research into Grapes & Wine.
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