New Zealand wine Trust funds valuable research

*** MEDIA RELEASE***

11 March 2014 - for immediate publication

‘New Zealand wine Trust funds valuable research’

The Cresswell Jackson New Zealand Wine Trust has awarded its first research grant.

Under the broad objective of enhancing the success of the New Zealand wine industry, the Trust awarded the grant to scientist Dr Wendy Parr of Lincoln University. The study is in collaboration with Adelaide-based Phil Reedman MW, the University of Burgundy in France as well as London University and Oxford University in the UK.

The overall goal of the project is to provide sound, scientifically-based information concerning specific aspects of wine tasting and wine judging.

The study aims to investigate the influence of contextual variables on qualitative and quantitative aspects of sensory evaluations by testing whether wines are perceived as tasting ‘different’ under particular conditions.

On receiving news that the application was successful, Dr Parr said, “I am both delighted and excited to go ahead with this research.” She continues, “We can now investigate something that has long been of interest to the industry.”

The Cresswell Jackson New Zealand Wine Trust was set up by the directors of Wine Competition Ltd to receive proceeds from auctioning unopened bottles of wine not required during the judging of the company’s two wine shows – the Spiegelau International Wine Competition and the Marlborough Wine Show. Now in their fourth year, the two events will continue to auction the wine and return proceeds to the New Zealand industry. Director, Belinda Jackson explains, “The logistics of returning unused bottles make it impossible, but selling them and returning the money to the industry via grants and scholarships is the next best thing – perhaps even better.”

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