North East Wine Zone Vintage 2024 Update

North East Wine Zone will host its Vintage 2024 update on 14 November 2023.

This free event will be held between 2pm and 5pm at GO TAFE Wangaratta and will include a number of guest speakers.

• 2pm - Rob Hawkings - North East Wine Zone Acting Chair

Welcome and introduction to the day

• 2.15pm - Damian Griffante - Grape and Wine Australia

Australian wine industry update - prosecco, China and industry situation

Damien focuses on the trade and market access work of Australian Grape & Wine. He also manages the Australian Grape & Wine national advisory committees. The role takes on both a national and international perspective including engagement and maintaining Australian wine's leading role.

• 2.50pm - Ian Jones - Ian Jones Insurance Brokers

Smoke insurance for the wine industry

Unfortunately, the risk of smoke taint is on the rise as climate change-inspired bushfires continue to rage throughout Australia’s wine regions each year. Securing coverage for grape smoke taint to date has been impossible. We have the expertise and insurance policies to protect your business from the financial loss from smoke.

• 3.30pm - Ben Merrit - District Burn Planner at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

2023-24 North East control burn program

This presentation will cover off on the proposed controlled burn program for North East Victoria as well as a fire outlook for the region going into the summer of 2023-2024. Ben will have maps available and provide a presentation outlining the plan and contingencies around the proposed activities.

• 4pm - Fiona Wigg - Wine industry educator GO TAFE

Viticulture training opportunities at GOTAFE

Fiona will speak about the viticulture training opportunities available to businesses and individuals in NE Victoria to expand the capacity of the wine industry to remain viable and adaptive.

• 4.15pm - Prof Ian Porter - La Trobe University

Australian wine industry update - prosecco, China and industry situation

Ian will be providing an update on the sensor network and the operations and what will be needed for the 2024 vintage concerning hardware and accessing data. The region has 100 smoke sensor receivers dispersed across grape growers in NE Victoria.