The Grapevine Leaf Roll associated Virus Type 3 (GLRaV-3) is economically one of the most important and most widespread diseases of wine grapes. It poses a threat to the New Zealand wine industry's goal of growing quality grapes for premium wine production, as it delays ripening, reduces yield and depresses berry sugar content. This impacts on the wine-makers' options and ultimately on the quality of the wine produced.
There are obvious links between healthy plants growing quality grapes and producing high quality wines and the longevity of the vineyard. Recognising this, the New Zealand Winegrowers Board agreed to develop a Grafted Grapevine Standard (GGS) and an associated certification program which has the objective of minimising the probability of infected material being released to the industry.
It is important that each grape vine in your vineyard is of the highest quality and of known origin. The outcome sought is to provide assurance to viticulturists, winemakers, and other stakeholders including consumers, that grafted grape vines which are certified according to this Standard, can be described as 'high health plants' in that they have been tested for and shown not to have GLRaV-3 at the time of testing.
For further information about the NZWG GGS see PDF downloads to the right.
Many Marlborough vineyards are now looking at a redevelopment programme, either to replace existing vineyard with a high level of trunk disease, change varieties (usually from something else to Sauvignon Blanc) or else to reduce row spacing or increase vine density to increase yield per hectare.
READ MOREHill Laboratories have expanded their viticulture testing capability with the acquisition of the assets of Vine Testing Laboratory (VTL), a specialised ELISA laboratory able to diagnose Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3).
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