Research into the impact of climate change on grape vines has been given a boost with new glasshouses and a bird proof micro-vineyard at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The $1 million dollar development was officially opened by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson at a ceremony on Wednesday 26 October. NWGIC Director, Professor Jim Hardie said researchers are able to get a better understanding of how different climate factors affect grape vines. “Under controlled environmental conditions we can vary factors such as air or soil temperature to gain an understanding of the growth response of the plant itself but also the impact on fruit quality,” he said. The NWGIC is an alliance between CSU, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Wine Industry Association.