BRI’s 2027 Grower Trials support practical, industry-led research designed to help growers and winemakers test ideas, tackle emerging challenges and make more informed decisions.
This year’s trials span some of the current issues facing New Zealand wine businesses, from reducing labour costs to evaluating alternatives to vineyard netting, managing emerging vineyard pests and vine decline.
Improving vineyard management of Australian Grapevine Moth
Natural Selection, Craggy Range, Two Terraces, Paritua
Hawke’s Bay
Australian Grapevine Moth (AGVM) is an emerging pest in Hawke's Bay, with an increasing risk of spread to other winegrowing regions. AGVM can cause defoliation of vines, resulting in reduced ripening, decreased carbohydrate reserves and reduced resilience of vines. Attempts to control the pest in Hawke's Bay have resulted in an increase in insecticide applications and management costs. This project aims to gain further understanding of the AGVM lifecycle and spread in order to improve AGVM management.
Soil nutrition effect on vine decline
Loveblock Wines
Marlborough
Led by Loveblock Wines, this trial will test whether targeted soil nutrition and biological inputs, using commercially available products including BioGro-certified organic options, can measurably support the management of declining vines. By combining emerging international science with practical on-vineyard testing, the project aims to test commercial fertiliser recovery claims for both conventional and organic growers.
Semi-Minimal-Pruned Hedge for Sauvignon Blanc cost reduction
Rothay Vineyard, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
Marlborough
Rising labour costs and current grape prices are placing significant financial pressure on Sauvignon blanc growers, creating an urgent need for lower-cost vineyard management systems. The Semi-Minimal-Pruned Hedge (SMPH) system offers potential to reduce labour through mechanised canopy management while also increasing yields. This trial aims to test practical strategies at a block scale to regulate yield while maintaining vine balance, alongside monitoring grape quality parameters, disease assessments and opportunities for conversion between training systems.
Finding your net worth
Primary Insights, Amisfield, Chard Farm
Central Otago
Bird control accounts for 5-10% of total annual vineyard operating expenditure in CO vineyards, with current practices relying on heavily labour-intensive netting. As vineyard operating costs continue to rise, there is a need to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of differing bird control methods alongside objective assessments of fruit damage, fruit quality and yield outcomes.
The Grower trials initiative is designed to support grape growers and viticulturists in conducting their own vineyard trials. BRI and other industry partners support participants throughout the project, with planning, trial design, data collection, and communication. Potential trials should align with the industry Research Strategy and either test new ideas in a real-life setting or address an immediate research question, producing results that can be adopted by the industry when the project ends. If you're interested in learning more, contact Braden Crosby.
