Clare Valley vineyards worried about herbicide spray

The Grape Growers Association in South Australia's Clare Valley says wineries could start rejecting grapes affected by 2-4D spray.

The SA Primary Industries Department has confirmed 2-4D spray has been found on Clare Valley vines this vintage.

The hormone-based herbicide is used by broadacre farmers and warps vine leaf growth.

The association's Frank Nicholls says that, for grapes tested, the spray residue level is below the Australian standard, but wine export destinations may have a zero spray tolerance.

"If the winery really wanted to be nitty gritty about it, they could probably reject the fruit on the strength of the fact that it's going to affect their export sales."