TIA-driven research aimed at understanding the chemistry and sensory impact of smoke taint on wine ageing. Sam Sawyer is working with FireLab3 to further develop the methodology for experimentation in controlled smoke exposure in an effort to develop mitigation and management solutions for the Wine Industry. This novel research project on sparkling wine is part of a larger study co-designed with Wine Tasmania to enable the wine industry to make informed decisions about how to manage smoke taint. The Tasmanian wine industry is worth $132M (Agri-Food Scorecard 2020-2021). The impact of smoke taint from bushfires can result in significant, and potentially total, losses on a regional scale as was experienced interstate in 2019-2020 (Wine Australia National Vintage Report 2020). Sparkling wine makes up a about a third of Tasmania’s wine each year, a higher percentage than any other region.