In the heart of one of Australia's major wine regions, the New South Wales Hunter Valley, the soil is bone dry.
The relentless drought has fifth-generation winemaker Alisdair Tulloch bracing for yet another challenging season: "The heatwaves are my primary concern, leading in to it from a very dry winter into what is forecast to be a very dry spring."
He says summer heatwaves have become the new norm and it's impacting grape-growth at an alarming rate. "Yeah, that was when we saw temperatures hit over 47 degrees Celsius, that really does have a massive impact on grape quality even in a short period of time, so that was a period when we had some fruit on the vine, and we were desperate to pull it in, basically."
"The heatwaves are my primary concern, leading in to it from a very dry winter into what is forecast to be a very dry spring."
It's the same story for grape-growers in South Australia, including David Bruer, who says the dramatic shift in harvest dates is taking a toll on his business. "It's putting a huge strain on our resources for both fermentation space but also for refrigeration, but also labour because the work is all happening over a much shorter period, it’s harder for us to physically manage the labour, we've had to hire more people for a shorter time."
Dr. Christopher Davies, a principal research scientist with the CSIRO says the changes recorded by grape-growers reflect both the pace and severity of climate change - and paint a bigger picture of the vulnerabilities of the entire farming sector.
"When you increase the temperature and get this faster ripening, then you're getting more imbalances that make it more challenging for the wine makers. When people ask me have you got a good example of climate change, I say talk to a viticulturist or talk to a wine company because they've all experienced the changes."
With climate change presenting an increasing threat, winemakers across Australia are being forced to adopt new measures to combat the challenges.
Some are moving to cooler climates, like Tasmania, while others, like David Bruer are diversifying the variety of grape: "Varieties which use water more efficiently or are able to handle low-water conditions in high growing temperatures."
Going carbon neutral is another strategy helping mitigate the threats.
"Varieties which use water more efficiently or are able to handle low-water conditions in high growing temperatures."
David Bruer has made the switch, while Alisdair Tulloch's family-run winery received official certification this year,
He says that's an important step, following last week's report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that urged a re-think of how the world produces food.
He's been using regenerative agriculture to both addresses the climate crisis and alleviate the impacts of the drought.
"We grow these so they will break down in the soil and provide the plants with the nutrients that will help them survive through periods of stress and hopefully we can store more water in the soil."
Professor Mark Howden, the Vice Chair of the IPCC says a co-ordinated approach for the entire agriculture industry is needed:"We do have good solutions in terms of that comprehensive approach but they’re not necessarily joined up well at the moment."
Next month, a delegation of farmers will visit Parliament House calling for a national strategy on climate change and agriculture.
