Keynotes

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FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM (travelling 17400km for ICCS 2012)

One of the most renowned names in wine, Jancis Robinson has built a huge international following as the voice ‘for people who like fine wine’. After becoming the first non-trade Master of Wine, Jancis edited and wrote The Oxford Companion to Wine and, with Hugh Johnson, The World Atlas of Wine. Her BBC television series, Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course, was seen throughout the world and she also advises Queen Elizabeth II on the royal wine cellar. Jancis Robinson’s webpage is a comprehensive resource at the vanguard of global wine trends: www.jancisrobinson.com

Tom Stevenson

With 30 years in wine writing, Tom Stevenson is considered the world’s leading authority on Champagne and Sparkling Wine. Tom has authored 23 books, including Christies World Encyclopaedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine and Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopaedia (required reading for the MW course), and has contributed to Decanter, WINE Magazine and Wine & Spirit International, to name just a few. Tom is also a leading expert on Alsace and one of the world’s most respected wine writers.

Dr Richard Smart

Dr Richard Smart, dubbed ‘the flying vine doctor’, has been in viticulture – teaching, researching and consulting – since the 1960s. Richard has presented papers at every ICCS, since the first symposium in Oregon, 1984. He received his viticulture PhD from Cornell University and has enjoyed a long career at Roseworthy (including as Dean of Oenology) and as a New Zealand Government viticultural scientist. Richard consults to over 200 clients in 26 countries and is world-renowned for canopy management research. Richard has authored 380 publications, including the bestseller, Sunlight Into Wine and contributed to the Oxford Companion to Wine. He avoids winter by living in both Tasmania and Cornwall.

FROM FRANCE (travelling 17250 km for ICCS 2012)

Pierre –Yves Bournérias

Institut Œnologique de Champagne

It’s time to discover the secrets of the Institut Œnologique de Champagne. Pierre is an institute winemaker, business developer, and world leading expert in sparkling wine production. He gives advice for all things from harvest to market to around 30 wine producers across France, England, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Tunisia, Morocco, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

FROM THE NETHERLANDS (travelling 17050km for ICCS 2012)

Stan Beurskens

Stan Beurskens is a Dutch flying winemaker and academic at the cutting edge of burgeoning Netherlands viticulture. A skilled academic, Stan has been a research fellow at universities in the Netherlands, South Africa and Germany exploring disease resistant grape hybrid varieties for cool climates; all complemented by a decade of practical viticultural experience. In 2007, Stan established his consultancy, now advising more than 50 wineries in the northern regions of Europe.

FROM CANADA (travelling 16300km for ICCS 2012)

Dr Andy Reynolds

Dr Andrew G. Reynolds is the Professor of Biological Sciences/Viticulture at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute at Brock University, Canada. Andy attained his PhD at Cornell University and became a Research Scientist for Agriculture Canada in British Columbia. One of the most influential figures in Canadian wine, Andy has published dozens of academic papers on cool climate viticulture and is well known for his research into canopy management, the impacts of terroir, irrigation and water relations; aerial imaging and disease management.

FROM THE USA (travelling 13370km for ICCS 2012)

Wendy Stuckey

Roseworthy graduate and Barossa native, Wendy Stuckey, spent 15 years at Wolf Blass. As white winemaker, Wendy was responsible for the iconic Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling. During that time, she was Qantas/Australian Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year (2002) and won White Wine of the Year at the prestigious London International Wine Challenge (LIWC). In 2007, Wendy was lured to Washington’s Chateau Ste. Michelle. A producer with a 40 year history, producing eight Riesling wines, including the ‘Eroica’ in partnership with Dr Ernst Loosen; Wendy is at the helm of one of the most eminent cool climate wineries in the world.

FROM NEW ZEALAND (travelling 2431km for ICCS 2012)

Michael Brajkovich MW

The accomplished Michael Brajkovich graduated dux of Roseworthy before returning to his family winery, Kumeu River, in Auckland. He was later to become the first New Zealander Master of Wine (1989) and has extensive judging experience, including the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, New Zealand National Wine Awards, Royal Hobart Wine Show and Perth Royal Wine Show. One of the most respected figures in the New Zealand wine industry, Michael has had a long held interest in the role of indigenous yeast fermentation in cool climate winemaking. The Kumeu River Chardonnay has been listed in Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines five times.

Dr Brian Jordan

Brian has over 25 years of research expertise, and has been specialising in wine since 2003. He is currently Professor of Plant Biotechnology with Lincoln University, New Zealand. His recent investigations into UV-B radiation effects on plants have attracted global interest, particularly in relation to the wine quality impact of fruit exposure to UV light, with possible implications to colour, phenolics, tannins and susceptibility to Botrytis.

FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA (travelling 1160km for ICCS 2012)

Karl Forsyth

Karl Forsyth is a chemical engineer, leading the South Australia Research & Development Institute-Australian Wine Research Institute (SARDI-AWRI) Lifecycle Assessment Program. Using his knowledge of chemical engineering, economics and process modelling, Karl is at the leading edge of environment and sustainability energy efficiency process improvement. Karl co-created the International Wine Carbon Calculator in 2007 and provides a wealth of knowledge on calculating carbon footprints, energy efficiency opportunities for wineries and making practical changes to combat the effects of climate change, which so deeply affects wine industry.

Dr Peter Dry

Dr Peter Dry was the longest serving academic of the viticulture and oenology faculty of the University of Adelaide, before becoming a viticultural consultant with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). Peter’s area of expertise is in grapevine reproductive biology and the manipulation of wine quality by vineyard management; especially canopy management, shoot and inflorescence development and vine response to stress. Peter also maintains a strong interest in the world’s diverse grape varieties. Peter is an associate editor of Australian Journal of Grape & Wine Research and Australian & New Zealand Wine Industry Journal and has published hundreds of academic papers.

Ed Carr

Ed Carr is Australia’s most awarded sparkling winemaker who has long held the belief that Australia can produce sparkling wines equal to the world’s best. Ed began his career in 1977 as a Microbiologist, and was appointed Assistant Winemaker in 1984. Ed was appointed Group Sparkling Winemaker at Constellation Wines Australia in 1994 (now Accolades), and continues in this position today. Over the past few years, Ed’s wines have won an unprecedented 21 consecutive “Best Sparkling Wine of Show” trophies in Australian capital city wine shows. The portfolio of sparkling wines he oversees ranges from bargain bubbly through to the prestige cuvee, Arras.

FROM VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA – travelling 600km for ICCS 2012)

Ross Brown

Futurist Ross Brown, is the third generation to run the family-owned Brown Brothers, first established in 1889; and recently labelled one of ‘Australia’s First Families of Wine’. Ross was appointed CEO in 2001, and carefully considered the impacts of global warming, drought and high temperatures; he resolved to expand Brown Brothers’ cool climate vineyard portfolio. Along with high altitude sites in Victoria, Australia, Ross oversaw the purchase of Tasmania’s largest vineyard Tamar Ridge Estates, before stepping down as CEO earlier this year. The acquisition underscored Ross’s commitment to cool climate viticulture, as well as recognition of the exponential market growth of pinot noir and sparkling wine.

FROM TASMANIA (AUSTRALIA – travelling 170km for ICCS 2012)

Dr Andrew Pirie AM

Dr Andrew Pirie is a pioneer of cool climate viticulture in Australia and a highly respected winemaker. He left Sydney in 1973 with an MScAgr, a PhD in viticulture and a passion for Tasmanian terroir; situated on the equivalent latitude to Burgundy, at 41˚ south. In 1974, Andrew and his brother David established Pipers Brook Vineyard, one of the first major viticulture plantations in Tasmania. Andrew helped put Tasmanian wine on the map when his 1994 Ninth Island Chardonnay won the White Wine Trophy at the London International Wine Competition (LIWF). He was named the 2002 and 2003 Qantas/Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year. Andrew was awarded his Member of the Order of Australia for services to Tasmanian wine and tourism and serves as a director of Wine Tasmania.

YOUR HOST (travelling a pleasant 5km and carrying ICCS all the way)

Andrew Hood

Tasmanian wine legend, Andrew Hood, has given more than 20 years’ service to the Tasmanian wine industry and, in 2010, he was honoured as the inaugural Wine Tasmania Life Member. Andrew was nominated as Winemaker of the Year in 2000 and 2004 and represents Tasmania on the Winemakers Federation of Australia (WFA) board. Greatly admired within the industry, Andrew made his own wines at Wellington and Frogmore Creek, and a great many as a contract winemaker, garnering huge success on the national show circuit.