Next Generation Viticulture: Capture more light to harvest more grapes
Transforming canopy management systems to maximise sunlight could increase vineyard profitability without compromising wine quality, says researchers.
A school visit to a gleaming winery lab hooked Giorgia Hickey on the idea of a career in wine.
She'd long had a love of chemistry, so when her Havelock North school undertook a field trip to Eastern Institute of Technology in year 12, she was absorbed by discussions of physics and chemistry in the winery, and an opportunity to run tests in the lab. "I loved stepping it up a bit and having better-than-high school labs zand all that jazz," says Giorgia, now in her third year studing viticulture and oenology at Lincoln University. "It was really cool."
The love of chemistry has continued with her studies, and she relished her wine chemistry papers last year, and the chance to work in the lab each week. "That was awesome and I am looking forward to working in the lab this vintage as well."
Her seven weeks of vintage work will be spent with Invivo and Co, "in the original Mr Bragato's winery", says Giorgia, referencing the historic 1902 Te Kauwhata winery that Invivo works from, once run by influential viticulturist Romeo Bragato. That's a nice turn of events, because Giorgia was one of the recipients of the 2022 Bragato Trust scholarships, giving her financial assistance for her wine studies.
In her second semester she'll head to the United States on an exchange programe to Oregon State University, and when her studies end, she hopes to continue learning in far flung places. "I'd really like to go vintage hopping, jumping between northern and southern hemispheres for a few years," says Giorgia, whose teenage passion for chemistry was only rivalled by the travel bug nurtured through childhood trips with her family.
Her ultimate goal is to return to New Zealand with skills earned through study and work, and to climb up to a winemaker role.
