Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

A grape variety from Cyprus is helping Australian vineyards survive extreme heat; growers using Xynisteri have cut water consumption by 75%, while the vines have survived temperatures above 45°C

When temperatures climb above 45 degrees Celsius and water is one of the most expensive inputs on a farm, survival may depend on looking backward. According to ABC News Information and Services, in South Australia's Riverland, growers are looking to a grape with thousands of years of history in the Mediterranean for a possible answer to Australia's hotter, drier future. Xynisteri, a venerable white grape of Cyprus, is proving remarkably resilient in conditions which are putting increasing stress on conventional wine grapes. Some growers using the variety have cut water consumption by as much as 75 per cent, with the vines continuing to withstand extreme heat. For Riverland grower Yianni Koutouzis the experiment is both a practical response to a changing climate, and a personal connection to his family’s Mediterranean heritage.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.