The importance of grapevine material resources to the improvement of New Zealand wines over the last 20 to 30 years is underestimated. A rapid expansion of available virus-free clones has benefited all varieties. However, by its very nature, the propagation of clones produces a uniformity of type that could be considered one-dimensional. The genetic variation that has occurred in areas like the Rhone Valley, where Syrah has been growing for hundreds of years, is very wide. Berry shape, bunch size, skin thickness and time to maturity can be markedly different. Rather than making ‘clonal’ selections, generations of winegrowers have made vineyard or ‘massal’ selections based on the best performing individual vines for their circumstances. These massal selections are beginning to influence New Zealand vineyards.
