The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Research aims to develop more resilient sauvignon blanc vines

RNZ
12 Dec, 2021 08:00 PMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Photo / 123rf

Photo / 123rf

RNZ

An $18.7 million programme is aiming to introduce genetic diversity to New Zealand's sauvignon blanc grapevines.

The Bragato Research Institute is partnering with New Zealand Winegrowers, more than 20 wine companies and the NZ Viticulture Nursery Association on the seven-year programme.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor the vines were based on one clone which presented some risk.

"Developing improved, commercially-available variants of this grape variety will also act as an industry insurance policy against future risks from pests, disease and changing markets.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Sauvignon blanc comprises 87 per cent of our wine exports. This new $18.7 million grapevine improvement programme will introduce genetic diversity into our vines, and ensure they continue to thrive in New Zealand conditions."

O'Connor said many of the country's existing vines would need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years in order to avoid a loss in productivity.

"The new variants could also lead to new flavour and aroma profiles, resulting in exciting new styles of wine that will add further value to the sector."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The government is contributing $7.48 million through the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

- RNZ

Discover more

Travel

Covid puts a stopper in cancelled Marlborough Food & Wine Fest

09 Dec 01:49 AM

Central Otago vineyard facing challenges of pandemic

08 Nov 04:00 PM

Wine exports up despite smaller harvest

09 Nov 02:00 AM
New Zealand

130ha farm pivotal in Tarras development proposal

05 Dec 10:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

The Country: Cameron Bagrie on tomorrow's OCR call

08 Jul 01:50 AM
The Country

South Island braces for more wild weather, third time in three weeks

08 Jul 01:43 AM
The Country

End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

07 Jul 11:46 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

The Country: Cameron Bagrie on tomorrow's OCR call

The Country: Cameron Bagrie on tomorrow's OCR call

08 Jul 01:50 AM

Cameron Bagrie, Farmer Tom Martin, Sirma Karapeeva, Jo Luxton, and John McOviney.

South Island braces for more wild weather, third time in three weeks

South Island braces for more wild weather, third time in three weeks

08 Jul 01:43 AM
End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

07 Jul 11:46 PM
Women make their mark at sheep dog trials

Women make their mark at sheep dog trials

07 Jul 11:12 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP