Spoken by Prue Henschke
- Written By Brenden Robnik (22/01/2026)
The Less Glamorous Reality of Vineyard Life
It is probably time to start showing the less glamorous side of running a vineyard. From the outside it often looks like sunshine, cellar doors and great bottles on the table, but behind the scenes there is a constant battle to keep vines healthy and productive. One of the most confronting of these challenges is Eutypa dieback, a trunk disease that quietly works its way through vineyards long before most people ever notice something is wrong.
What Is Eutypa Dieback?
Eutypa dieback is one of the most serious trunk diseases affecting vineyards around the world. It is caused by the fungus Eutypa lata, which enters vines almost exclusively through pruning wounds. This most commonly occurs during wet winter and early spring conditions, when spores are easily spread by rain and wind. Once inside the vine, the fungus slowly colonises the permanent wood. This is not a fast moving disease. In many cases it can take several years before any visible symptoms appear, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous.
Symptoms That Appear Too Late
A vineyard can look healthy from a distance while Eutypa is already well established deep within the trunk and cordons. When symptoms do eventually show themselves, they are usually seen in spring growth. Shoots may be weak and stunted, leaves can appear small, distorted and yellowed, and fruit set is often uneven. Over time, arms and cordons begin to die back, yields decline, and the balance of the vine is completely disrupted. If infected wood is cut open, a wedge shaped section of dead tissue is often visible, a classic and confronting sign of Eutypa infection.
How Eutypa Weakens the Vine
One of the more challenging aspects of Eutypa is the way it affects the canopy. The fungus produces toxins that move from the infected wood into new shoots and leaves. This is why the above ground symptoms can look dramatic even though the infection itself is buried deep in the trunk. Year after year, repeated exposure weakens the vine, reducing both yield and quality, and slowly shortens its productive life. Eventually, if left unmanaged, even beautiful old vines will decline and die.
Prevention Is the Only Defence
There is no cure once Eutypa is established, which makes prevention absolutely critical. Vineyard practices play a huge role in managing risk. Pruning in dry conditions, delaying pruning, using double pruning techniques and protecting fresh pruning wounds with sealants can all significantly reduce infection. In some cases, infected arms can be removed and new wood retrained, giving the vine a second chance. However, when the disease is too advanced, replacement becomes the only option.
A Quiet but Devastating Threat
Eutypa is a silent yield killer. It rarely wipes out a vineyard overnight, but over time it contributes heavily to vineyard decline, reduced fruit quality and some very tough decisions for growers. It is a reminder that great wine starts long before the winery, and that caring for vineyards is as much about patience, vigilance and prevention as it is about passion.
Acknowledgement
Thank you Prue for sharing this insight. It is an aspect of viticulture that deserves far more attention and understanding, because behind every great bottle is a vineyard fighting challenges most people never see.