15 March 2004 Research Centre 'Marvellous New Addition to South Island Wine Industry'

A multi-million dollar wine research centre will be opened in Blenheim on Thursday (18 March) by Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton, laying a firm foundation for the sustainability of the Marlborough wine industry.

The Marlborough Wine Research Centre is a collaborative enterprise linking Marlborough District Council, Marlborough Regional Development Trust, Marlborough Research Centre Trust, HortResearch, local and national wine industry representatives, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and Lincoln University.

Lincoln University's Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Business Development) Professor Tony Zwart describes the centre as a marvellous new addition to the New Zealand wine industry's South Island infrastructure and a fine example of regional initiative and resourcefulness.

Trade and Enterprise New Zealand contributed $2 million towards the centre's development, with 40 wine companies and industry groups pledging $300,000 per year for five years towards operating costs.

Facilities include four laboratories, a technology transfer theatre, a wine sensory room for conducting specialised tastings, a library and a winery for teaching and training viticulture and wine science students.

The establishment of the centre continues the immense growth of the New Zealand wine industry in the past decade and will contribute to the industry's on-going global recognition, says the chairman of the centre's nine-member board, Ivan Sutherland.

"The centre will play an important part in assuring producers, investors and consumers of a sustainable future," he says.

Lincoln University is represented on the board by Professor Brian Jordan, Director of the University's Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division, and the wine research team leader is Dr Mike Trought, an Associate Professor of Viticulture of Lincoln University and formerly Marlborough Regional Viticulturist for Villa Maria Estate Ltd. Dr Trought has had a long association with research in Marlborough.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand