Xynisteri: A Drought-Resilient Grape Redefining Australia’s Vineyards
⏱ 2 min read The Short Version A 5,500-year-old Cypriot grape is transforming Australia’s vineyards by surviving extreme heat and using 75% less water than traditional varieties. Xynisteri’s resilience offers a lifeline as drought and rising water costs threaten the wine industry. In This Article A Grape Built to SurviveWater Wars and the Economics of Thirst In the Barossa Valley, Xynisteri—a 5,500-year-old grape from Cyprus—has emerged as a game-changer for drought resilience. Introduced to Australia in 2018, it’s delivering tangible results for growers in the Riverland and Barossa Valley, cutting water use by up to 75% and surviving temperatures beyond…