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THE PEOPLEHome | Happy Tourists | Forthcoming Tours | Past Tours |
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Dr Richard SmartDr Richard Smart has been involved with viticulture since the mid 1960s, which makes him one of the most experienced viticultural consultants to be found. He graduated from Sydney University with Honours in Agricultural Science in 1966, and subsequently has acquired another three degrees. These include a MSc Honours from Macquarie University with a study of sunlight use by vineyards, and a PhD from Cornell University in the USA (New York State), where he studied under the famous Professor Nelson Shaulis. In 1995 he was awarded a DSc by the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, in recognition of research into canopy management effects on vineyard yield and quality. Most of Richard's career has been in viticultural research and teaching - at Griffith NSW, at Roseworthy College in South Australia (including a period as Dean of the Faculty of Oenology), and also as Government Viticultural Scientist in New Zealand. |
There he helped lay the technical foundations for an emerging, quality-oriented and internationally competitive wine industry. He has authored or co-authored over 200 publications, including the internationally acclaimed book Sunlight into Wine which is regarded as the standard reference on canopy management. Another significant achievement was as Viticultural Editor and principal contributor to the multi-award winning The Oxford Companion To Wine (1994), edited by Jancis Robinson MW. Richard Smart has helped to popularise the role of viticulture in the wine business, in an industry where the limelight is invariably given to winemakers. Richard's strong beliefs about winemaking in the vineyard have now become industry by-words, but this was not always the case. Feature articles about Richard in distinguished global wine magazines like The Wine Spectator, Decanter, Wine and Spirit International as well as international newspaper wine columns have helped spread the message. Smart Viticulture operates from Port Macquarie NSW. Since the mid 1980s Richard Smart has also been involved in international consulting, initially on behalf of the NZ Government as a supplement to research. Consulting has been a full time occupation since 1991, and he now has over 200 clients worldwide. Smart Viticulture (formerly Smart Viticultural Services) has contact offices in Europe (Bordeaux), North America (Healdsburg), South America (Santiago), New Zealand (Hamilton) and South Africa (Stellenbosch). While many clients want to use Richard's expertise in canopy management to improve wine quality and vineyard yield, complete viticultural advice can be given on a range of issues such as choice of site, variety, rootstock, irrigation and nutrition management etc. Smart Viticulture also offers seminars on canopy management (over 50 have been conducted to date around the world) as well as educational tours and intensive viticultural training. Richard Smart can be contacted on vinedoc@bigpond.net.au |
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Rosie CupittRosie Cupitt is a horticulturist/garden designer, studying Winegrowing by distance education at CSU Wagga Wagga. With her husband, she owns a hotel in Bowral where she has been based for more than 30 years. She currently lives in the Shoalhaven region of the south coast of NSW and is involved with two Shoalhaven wineries where she does vintage work as cellarhand and lab technician. Passionate about wine and all things French, Rosie set up "My French Tours" five years ago, and takes tours to Provence in May/June of each year focusing on food, wine and private gardens. Rosie accompanyed Richard Smart on his August 2002 tour of the vineyards and wineries of southern France. |
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Clement BellandeClement's family own a vineyard in the Côtes du Ventoux (South Côtes du Rhone). He is in his third year of a Degree in International Trade specialising in wine at the Technologic University of Tours. His mother language is French and he is also fluent in English, German and Spanish. Clement has travelled, on language-learning trips, in England, America, Germany and Spain. He has completed a 3 month French, American and Australian wine and spirits course for wine stewards and bartenders and has been employed as a wine consultant on cruise ships in mainland USA, Alaska and the Caribbean. Clement accompanyed Richard Smart and Rosie Cupitt on the August 2002 tour of the vineyards and wineries of southern France |
Rachel BarnesRachel Barnes completed a Bachelor of Management Studies with First Class Honours at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. A major component of her degree was a paper for Nobilo Wines, NZ conducted in the UK. The project involved researching and recommending pricing and packaging strategies for the major export wine, White Cloud. In 1995, Rachel joined Uncle Ben's of Australia. As an Export Business Marketing Manager she worked with associates in a number of regions including South East Asia, the UAE, and South Africa to develop and manage marketing projects for export products. |
 Rachel Barnes BMS (Hons) AM AMI |
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In promotion to a Domestic Brand Manager she managed a number of brands including Sheba, Pedigree Pal Products and the organisation's snacks portfolio. In 1998, Rachel was appointed the Marketing Manager for Wodonga Institute of TAFE, establishing the new Marketing Department and its systems. The department developed and implemented a complete new marketing strategy for the Institute that included new brand imaging, advertising campaign and corporate image-re-design. The department also managed marketing events, PR and advertising for the Institute while providing a professional marketing consultancy to individual departments. In 1999 the Institute Marketing Team was awarded the 1999 Australian TAFE Marketer of the Year at the annual Australian TAFE Marketing Awards. In
2000, Rachel joined the firm Ratcliffe Partners, Albury as Marketing Consultant.
She brings to the role experience in a number of industries and a creative
and innovative approach to clients' marketing issues. |
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Lyndal CooteLyndal Coote assist Richard Smart with the promotion of his wine tours and other activities. She is the principal of Scooter Marketing, a marketing consultancy established to help small and medium enterprises - the kind with potential but limited resources - to achieve economic growth. Scooter provides practical and affordable marketing assistance so businesses don't have to employ their own marketing staff. Scooter services include web site development and management; marketing and business planning; implementation of marketing plans (advertising, direct mail, PR, events); development of reports, submissions, letters, proposals, brochures, ads, press releases, direct mail letters, newsletters; sales & market analysis; mailing list & customer database development; strategic planning; project management. |
