David Jackson

Dr D. I. Jackson  BHortSc, MAgrSc(Hort), PhD(Adelaide). Bledisloe Medallist, 1993.

After a period of time at the DSIR in Auckland, David joined the staff at Lincoln College in 1968. In 1975 he was one of a small group who founded the New Zealand Tree Crops Association. However, it was in the area of grape production that he was to achieve eminence. It was in the early 1970s that serious thought was given to the role that cool climate varieties of grapes might play in Canterbury. Dr Jackson also played a pivotal role in establishing a postgraduate diploma course in wine science and viticulture which began in 1989. In 1990 Lincoln University acknowledged Dr Jackson’s contribution to horticultural science with a Special Achievement Award for Excellence in Research. He was appointed Professional Fellow in 2000. David died on 9 July 2011.

Timeline:

1952: Arrived in New Zealand from Britain with his parents. Attended Nelson College.
1954: Began study for horticultural qualification at Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln
University).
1958: Graduated BAgrSc(Horticulture).
1960: Graduated MAgrSc(Horticulture) with Honours.
1960: Joined DSIR's Fruit Research Division. Worked on storage problems in apples. Was
responsible for identifying calcium's role in bitter pit in NZ apples.
1961-1964: PhD studies in fruit science at Waite Institute, University of Adelaide.
1968: Joined horticultural academic staff at Lincoln College.
1973: Awarded $500 Lincoln College research grant to investigate the idea of growing
grapes in Canterbury.
1973-onwards: Experimental grape growing and wine making work with Graham Steans,
Danny Schuster and Professor Paul Mulcock.
1974: Promoted from Senior Lecturer to Reader in Horticulture.
1975: Founded, with others, the NZ Tree Crops Association.
1981: Appointed Officer-in-Charge, Horticulture Research at Lincoln College.
1981: St Helena Wine Estate formed by Robin Mundy and brother at Belfast, Christchurch.
1981: St Helena takes up Lincoln College's research recommendations and plants
Canterbury's first commercial vineyard. Uses cuttings from varieties researched and grown
at Lincoln College.
1981: St Helena's first commercial vintage sold out in one day.
1982: A St Helena Pinot noir won a national competition gold medal. This brought the
country's attention to Canterbury as a wine producing district.
1989: New Zealand's first university course in Grape and Wine Production launched at
Lincoln College.
1990: Dr Jackson received one of the first two Lincoln University awards for Excellence in
Research.
1993: Dr Jackson awarded Lincoln College's Bledisloe Medal for distinguished contributions
advancing New Zealand's land-based interests.
1998: Appointed foundation Director of Lincoln University's Centre for Viticulture and
Oenology.
2000: Appointed Professorial Fellow of Lincoln University.
2000: Retired from Lincoln University.