Grape Expectations For Wine Industry Conference

Why Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular New Zealand export wine in the world, and how to further capitalise on the varietal is just one topic at this year’s Romeo Bragato conference.

Now in its twelfth year, Romeo Bragato remains unique as the only wine industry conference focused on the role science and technology plays in producing the perfect grape and making the highest quality wine.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said incorporating science and technology advances into grape growing and wine making is vital to the industry’s growth.

“By 2010 we predict the wine industry will be worth one billion export dollars, which will make it one of the top New Zealand export industries and science and technology will play a key part in reaching this goal.

“Romeo Bragato provides the industry with much needed access to the latest research and innovation in viticulture. As an industry we need to constantly look ahead to grow our ability to produce high quality wine for niche international markets as well as effectively service our domestic market,” said Mr Gregan.

The Romeo Bragato conference is not only about grape growing and wine making education, it is also a time to celebrate successes in the industry with the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards, New Zealand’s only wine competition that rewards the grapegrower.

“These awards focus on the person behind the great wine, it’s the grapegrower who receives the kudos not the varietal or the vineyard,” said Mr Gregan.

The Romeo Bragato conference will run in Queenstown from 24-26 August, with key industry players and international experts coming together to discuss everything from wine making to wine marketing.

A popular forum at this year’s conference will be “Getting Savvy about Aromas”, a close look at New Zealand’s most exported wine, Sauvignon Blanc and the key research results from the long-term research programme into this varietal, such as the effect of yeast strain, aroma compounds and grape skin pressing.

Key note speakers at the conference include Jamie Odell, Managing Director of Foster’s Wine Estates; Professor Warren Moran of Auckland University, who has researched the international wine industry for over a decade; Philip Goodband MW, one of the most respected members of the British Wine Trade and Terry Lee, international judge for the Bragato Wine Awards who recently retired from the positions of Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of E. & J. Gallo Winery in California.

For more information on key note speakers, seminars and events at Romeo Bragato visit www. bragato.org.nz.

Editors notes
The Romeo Bragato conference is named after a man who arrived on New Zealand shores on February 19, 1895. Fresh from Italy with his Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology in hand, the then New Zealand Government escorted Romeo Bragato from one end of the country to the other to visit and advise on our local vineyards.

Romeo Bragato’s report recommended the need for a competent body to lead New Zealand’s budding wine industry. The present day New Zealand Winegrowers bring this annual conference to the industry in the spirit of the report and its many recommendations that remain relevant to the modern grape growing industry.

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