Louse a threat to local wine industry

A tiny louse with the potential to cause major headaches for the wine industry has been discovered in a central Otago vineyard.

Central Otago Winegrowers Association president Martin Anderson said a root-destroying infestation of phylloxera had been discovered at a vineyard in the Lowburn area.

Vineyards were assessing what their management practices should be and some would have to replant with phylloxera-resistant root stock, he said.

The phylloxera pest nearly wiped out the European wine industry in the late 1800s after arriving from America.

European winemakers were forced to import resistant American rootstocks and graft their vines on to them.

- NZPA