Industry has been notified by Australian Grape & Wine that Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV) has been detected in Western Australian and Victorian germplasms.
In the past week, GRBV has also been confirmed in South Australian vines.
These detections occurred as the result of routine screening for a range of viruses and follow up tracing, not as a result of visual symptoms. It appears GRBV has been present in Australia for at least 30 years, meaning that this is not a new incursion, rather detections of a long-standing infection.
We understand growers and winemakers in the South Australian industry will want to know what this detection means for them.
Together with the South Australian Vine Improvement Association (SAVIA), Wine Grape Council SA (WGCSA) and South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), we have developed a set of Q&As to help you better understand the current situation.
We are grateful for the assistance of grapevine virus experts in Australia who have reviewed this set of Q&As.
We will continue to provide updates as further information comes to hand.
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Industry Notice: Grapevine Red Blotch Virus detections: Your questions answered