Grape and Wine Industry Technical Conference

9th Annual Grape and Wine Industry Technical Conference

Rabobank Romeo Bragato Conference: Wellington 2003

New Zealand Winegrowers anticipates over 600 grape growers, viticulturalists and wine makers will attend the 9th Annual Rabobank Romeo Bragato Conference in Wellington this August. The conference includes practical and technical presentations on the latest research covering many aspects of the wine industry.

The Romeo Bragato Conference continues to set high standards in its established tradition of presenting current research on viticultural issues. Sessions include information on training systems, frost management and vineyard pests.

Following unification, the 2002 conference included technical sessions on winemaking issues for the first time. This commitment is continued this year with a colloquium on fermentation technologies, and sessions on sensory evaluation and wine marketing.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Professor Alain Deloire, of Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique (ENSA), Montpellier, France. He will present the Bragato address, giving a historical perspective on the impacts of vineyard training systems on vine performance. A second paper will investigate the response of vines to water stress and the impacts on wine quality.

A highlight of the 2003 conference will be a day visit to Martinborough in the Wairarapa. Delegates will participate in various technical sessions and vineyard visits, and will have the opportunity to view the finals of the national pruning competition, the Sliver Secateurs. The trip will also include the opportunity for tasting the wines entered into the Bragato Wine Awards. This wine competition recognises that great wines come from great grapes, and rewards excellence in the vineyard. The conference will end with the Bragato Wine Awards dinner in Wellington, where trophies for the top wines will be presented.

The Romeo Bragato conference will be held at the Wellington Convention Centre from 27th-30th August 2003. The conference, organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, is the wine industry’s national conference, and this year is hosted by the Wellington Wine Region. The comprehensive technical programme has been developed in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Viticulture and Oenology. A copy of the programme can be found on the industry website http://www.nzwine.com/news/ .

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