ORDERING
Order forms can be obtained by downloading directly from this site, by emailing admin@bgvss.org, or by phoning the Operations Manager on 0423 367 680.
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CLASSIFICATION OF CUTTINGS
Barossa Vine Improvement Source Area Blocks provide the best available vine cuttings.
“A” Class
- ‘A’ Class Source Block’s varietal and clonal identity can be verified via an audit trail back to germplasm or multiplication, as well as passing ampelographic inspection and verification of all vines in the source block. Source blocks are also regularly inspected by experienced staff for pathogen symptoms, virus vectors, trunk diseases, general health and any off-type vines.
- ‘A’ Class Source Blocks are established from germplasm or multiplication vines (Gen 1 or 2).
- ‘A’ Class Cutting material is harvested from ‘A’ Class Source Blocks (producing Gen 3 cuttings), and which comply with the VINA Accreditation Scheme standards.
- ‘A’ Class Source Block procedures are audited annually by an independent auditor to maintain integrity and compliance with the VINA Accreditation Scheme standards.
- Virus Status: Randomly selected vines from the ‘A’ Class Source Blocks are regularly sampled and PCR tested for prescribed viruses as per the VINA Accreditation Scheme standards. The test results must be negative for viruses prescribed by the VINAS standards at the time, which are at least Leafroll types 1 and 3 and GVA. Other viruses maybe added to the prescribed list from time to time as we gain new scientific knowledge on any other viruses found in Australia that could be detrimental to vine performance. Contact Barossa Vine Improvement if you would like more information on prescribed viruses and their impacts on vine performance where these are scientifically known.
“B” Class
- ‘B’ Class Source Blocks are established from Gen 3 material and are thus one generation on from ‘A’ class source vines.
- At Barossa Vine Improvement, ‘B’ Class Source Blocks undergo the same inspection and virus testing procedures and must meet the same standards. Being one generation on, the virus status of every vine in these ‘B’ class blocks is a slightly less assured, although frequent inspections will typically pickup any virus infected or rogue vines which can then be removed or isolated from cuttings extraction.
- At Barossa Vine Improvement, ‘B’ Class source blocks undergo the same ampelographic inspection for varietal integrity and uniformity as ‘A’ Class Source blocks.
- ‘B’ Class Source blocks may not have as complete audit trail on the clonal origins of the vines in the source block as ‘A’ class source blocks, but they still have some record of origin and clonal identity. As DNA testing to clonal level becomes commercially available, these blocks will be DNA tested where required. DNA testing to varietal level is undertaken if there are any doubts with ampelographic inspection procedures.
“Mass Selections” and “Heritage Mass Selections” and other vine planting material
- “Mass Selection” refers to a Source Block of vines whereby the origin of those vines is unknown and there could be some genetic variation among the vines due to insufficient records, or due to considerable vine age. Therefore, the genetic homogeneity of cuttings taken from such Blocks cannot be assured like clonally verified vines. A Mass Selection is not a Clone, and such Blocks are not deemed accredited under the VINAS scheme. The identification name and performance traits assigned to a Mass Selection may be informal and may not have industry wide recognition. Mass Selections will not always be from ‘old’ vines though. Mass Selection Source blocks are still inspected for varietal integrity and any vines showing serious virus symptoms are removed or isolated from cuttings extraction.
- “Heritage Selection” typically refers to a Mass Selection Source Block of vines that are of great age – typically >60years. The selection identification name and performance traits rely largely on anecdotal reputation, and they are more prone to genetic variation among the Block’s vine population. There can be several “Heritage Mass Selections” selections available of any given variety within and across wine regions which can lead to varying results between selections that aren’t clearly identified. Barossa Vine Improvement has sought to avoid this by giving all of its Heritage Mass Selections a unique identifier by location and/or vine planting year – eg Grenache Heritage Rowland Flat (c1925).
- The virus status of Mass Selections and Heritage Mass Selections will vary, and they may sometimes possess virus types or variants that make the material unsuitable for grafting, but which may perform well on own roots. Such material will only be sold on the basis that the customer understands and accepts all risks and unknowns that maybe involved with planting such material. This may include some leafroll types and GVA depending on the variety, but Leafroll type 3 is not acceptable under any circumstances.
- Other un-accredited cutting material may be available from time to time of specific varieties and clones. This maybe of a known and recognized clone but which cannot have its clonal identity verified and may possess known virus types that make the material unsuitable for grafting but which may perform acceptably on own roots. Such material will only be sold on the basis that the customer understands and accepts all risks and unknowns that maybe involved with planting such material. Barossa Vine Improvement’s aim is to always to supply the best available planting material, but this may sometimes mean that a customer is happy to accept material that doesn’t meet the highest possible health standards versus being unable to plant their desired variety or clone. Barossa Vine Improvement’s aim is to over time, develop new accredited source blocks of such material. This may involve putting existing source vines through a virus elimination process (tissue culture), or via new importations of the same variety to meet long term industry demand. These processes do however take many years before commercial volumes of better material are available.
Cutting Collection and Labeling
Cuttings are harvested from Source Blocks from June through to early August. Cuttings are tied into bundles of 100. Each bundle is tagged with a colour-coded label according to its Source Block class. The label identifies the Variety, Clone and Source Block number. Bundled cuttings are collected daily from Source Blocks and delivered to the shed for distribution. Cuttings are carefully kept hydrated until customer collection.
Vinifera Cuttings Physical Standards
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Barossa Vine Improvement can also produce cuttings to other specific physical standards as maybe requested by the customer. These must always be discussed with us before ordering.
VARIETY CLONES INFORMATION
Barossa Vine Improvement has prepared dossiers on some clones for some varieties. These documents can be downloaded directly from this website, or can be obtained by contacting the office.
These dossiers do not provide information on all clones available in Australia, but they do provide technical data on some clones and varieties that Barossa Vine Improvement can currently supply. The information in these dossiers is provided in good faith, and may be used by the customer to help them decide what clone may be best for their circumstances. However, the information in these dossiers does not constitute recommendations towards any particular clone or to any particular situation, and Barossa Vine Improvement disclaims any form of liability to any person in respect of performance traits nor anything done or not done that is based upon any information included or omitted in these dossiers. Barossa Vine Improvement may be able to provide verbal information on some other variety clones. This maybe anecdotal in nature but has been carefully considered and accumulated from years of experience and from multiple sources. Barossa Vine Improvement suggests customers treat other one-of experiences with caution and especially where these are from very different climates and growing conditions to the customers vineyard situation.