15 March 2004 Many Milestones in Story of Wine Science and Viticulture at Lincoln University

• Grapes were first planted at Lincoln University for research purposes in 1973.

• A $500 research grant awarded to Dr David Jackson in 1973 has led to a multi-million dollar cool climate grape-growing and wine making industry in Canterbury and southern New Zealand, with Canterbury now ranked sixth among the grape-growing regions of New Zealand.

• Dr David Jackson, Graeme Steans and Danny Schuster were the pioneering grape research/wine making trio at Lincoln University.

• Today Lincoln University offers one of only two courses in the English-speaking world specialising in "cool climate" viticulture.

• Lincoln University first offered a named specialisation in Viticulture and Oenology within its Horticultural Science and Applied Science qualifications in 1989.

• Lincoln introduced a specialist Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology in 1994.

• Lincoln introduced New Zealand's first bachelor's degree in Viticulture and Oenology in 1998, the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology.

• New Zealand's first doctoral level graduate in Wine Science, Gary Pickering graduated PhD from Lincoln University in 1998.

• Lincoln introduced an annual School in Grapes and Wine in 1993 to mark the 20th anniversary of the first plantings at the University.

• Lincoln University opened a new purpose-built winery in 1996 on Farm Road on the campus, to replace the facility in the old Horticulture Department on the top floor of the Burns Building. It was officially opened by Philip Gregan, CEO of the Wine Institute of New Zealand.

• In 2000 a wine made in the Lincoln University Winery from grapes grown in the Lincoln University vineyard over the 1999-2000 season won a national Bronze Medal in the annual Bragato Wine Awards. This was the first ever medal for a Lincoln University wine. The wine was a Sauvignon Blanc and the grape grower and winemaker was PhD student Paul Petrie. Paul's entry was judged alongside commercial and amateur producers from throughout the country.

• November 22, 2001, Lincoln University and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology sign agreement for the provision of Lincoln degree courses in Viticulture and Oenology at NMIT's Marlborough campus. At the same time the Marlborough Wine Centre of Excellence is launched, a joint venture involving Lincoln University, NMIT and HortResearch's Marlborough Research Centre.

• March 18, 2004, Marlborough Wine Research Centre officially opened by Economic Development Minister Hon. Jim Anderton.

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