Syrah

The vines were originally imported from Australia and were part of a research programme to test virus elimination techniques. Fortunately, this treatment was successful. The entire collection was uplifted from Te Kauwhata and transferred to this row. The trial codes for each treatment are still identifiable on the red tags attached to the trickle irrigation wire.

This material, representing the sole source of Syrah vines in New Zealand, was made freely available to the New Zealand wine industry, as interest in Syrah production increased following our early releases of the wines from these vines. Consequently, most of New Zealand's Syrah wine is currently derived from this clone (and ultimately these vines).

New clones are now being imported and trialed.

Fortuitously, it appears that this original material is of high quality and very suitable for Syrah production in New Zealand. Consequently, it is likely to be a significant part of New Zealand's Syrah production in the future.

Recent research by writer Dr Paul White suggests that this original clone, salvaged from the Te Kauwhata vine collection, is a legacy of our early colonial history. Dr White believes he has traced the origins of the importation of this clone of Syrah to those grape cuttings brought to New Zealand by James Busby in the 1830's.