About WAVIA
Growing what's next. Protecting what matters.
The WA Vine Improvement Association (WAVIA) is a not-for-profit industry organisation dedicated to strengthening Western Australia’s viticulture sector. We work with growers, nurseries and research partners to expand grapevine diversity, protect high-health planting material, and support resilient vineyards. Through careful stewardship of propagation resources and a commitment to best practice, WAVIA helps secure a sustainable future for WA grapegrowing. Our management committee is made up of passionate and dedicated wine industry members who volunteer significant time towards this important state-wide priority.
PROPAGATION MATERIAL
WAVIA manages Western Australia’s grapevine germplasm collection, providing growers with access to high-health, true-to-type planting material of known origin. Often referred to as mother vines, these plants are maintained under strict biosecurity protocols and regularly tested for grapevine leafroll viruses.
Material from the collection supports alternative variety trials and forms the foundation of WAVIA’s registered source blocks, which operate across WA’s grape-growing regions. These source blocks increase the availability of quality planting material for industry and are a key part of WAVIA’s commitment to vine diversity and vineyard resilience.
WAVIA supplies Class A propagation material only, processed in accordance with National Vine Accreditation Guidelines.
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GERMPLASM COLLECTION
The grapevines held in WAVIA’s germplasm collection have been imported into Western Australia under strict quarantine protocols. Often referred to as mother vines, these plants are true to type, of known origin, and maintained at high health status. Trueness to type is verified by recognised ampelographers, and any vines with uncertain variety status are withheld from distribution until further research, including DNA analysis, confirms identification. Biosecurity is central to the collection. Every vine is tested every three years for grapevine leafroll associated viruses (GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3), with no new infections detected in recent testing cycles. The collection is nationally recognised for its quality, management practices, ongoing virus monitoring, and expanding range of commercially relevant varieties.
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SOURCE BLOCKS
Source blocks are established using material from the germplasm collection or first-generation trial vines. These blocks operate on commercial vineyards across WA’s grape-growing regions and range from small plantings to several hundred vines.
Source blocks significantly increase the availability of high-quality planting material and are a key priority for WAVIA. Growers interested in establishing a source block -particularly for varieties or clones not currently available - are encouraged to contact WAVIA. Source block growers receive a royalty of $0.10 per cutting supplied to WAVIA.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE DPIRD MANJIMUP SITE - DETECTION OF PHOMOPSIS
Phomopsis cane and leaf spot, a fungal disease of grapevines, was detected in Western Australia (WA) for the first time in 2023 at the DPIRD Manjimup vineyard. We are currently following a strict protocol to generate Phomopsis-free material which will be relocated to the UWA Shenton Park site in Spring 2026. Propagation material from DPIRD Manjimup is therefore no longer available. It is estimated that disease-free cuttings should be available from the block at UWA Shenton Park from 2030.
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PURCHASING CUTTINGS FROM WAVIA
Availability varies by variety and season, so growers are encouraged to plan ahead and place orders well before the end of May each year. All orders are managed via WAVIA, ensuring material supplied meets national accreditation standards and maintains high health status. To view current availability or place an order, please refer to the WAVIA Order Form page. For enquiries about specific varieties, future plantings, or establishing a source block, growers are welcome to contact WAVIA directly.
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