Can PIWI Grapes Protect New Zealand from Powdery Mildew? With Jim White of Cloudy Bay

This show was published Friday, July 10, 2026

Overview

Powdery mildew is getting harder to control in Marlborough. Jim White of Cloudy Bay explains why, and why a new generation of disease-resistant PIWI grape varieties might be the answer New Zealand growers have been waiting for.

Jim is Technical and Sustainable Development Director at Cloudy Bay, having worked his way up through viticulture and winemaking after starting his career at Clayton Tell. In this episode he breaks down what PIWI actually means, how these fungus-resistant varieties are bred, and why disease pressure in Marlborough has changed so dramatically over the last fifteen years. Chris and Jim talk through the sustainability case for PIWI, from cutting spray passes and carbon load to reducing copper build up in vineyard soils, and look at the long road ahead for new varieties in New Zealand, from quarantine through to commercial planting.

Stick around for Jim's take on whether Cloudy Bay might one day drop the word Blanc from its most famous label.

Host: Chris Scott
Guest: Jim White, Cloudy Bay

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