Wine research centre ‘a win-win’
A ‘‘world-leading’’ national research winery will be based at the Blenheim campus of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
Bragato Research Institute (BRI) chief executive M J Loza said one of the main reasons it had decided to build there was to continue a partnership with the polytechnic. It had been operating on a temporary site at the campus but was excited to push ahead and get something more permanent.
The temporary site was a small area where six ‘‘world first’’ dual-purpose fermentation tanks were tested, he said. BRI would now build a larger development which would include laboratories and office space.
Loza said the location would also allow BRI to continue to work alongside Plant and Research, New Zealand Winegrowers and Wine Marlborough, which are all on the same site.
NMIT acting CEO Carole Crawford said it was excited to have the opportunity to work alongside the new research winery.
‘‘It’s a huge opportunity for education and industry to work together. It’s a perfect win-win situation.’’
Loza said the 2019 vintage trial to assess the effectiveness of the fermentation tanks was a good example of the collaborative work that had already happened. The trial was carried out by the BRI team, as well as Plant and Food Research. Some third-year NMIT students also helped.
‘‘It was a real team effort, and our location here supports and encourages that.’’
The research winery was designed with input from a broad project team, including winemakers, suppliers, expert consultants and researchers.
The new development will have capacity for more than 100 research fermentation tanks, so more trials can be carried out. The dual-purpose tanks can hold 200 litres of wine for a single fermentation or have four 17-litre tanks for individual fermentations.
The research winery will trial winery equipment and technologies, winemaking processes, and sustainable winemaking and winery operations. It will also provide commercial research winemaking services to suppliers and the industry.
BRI establishment manager Tracy Benge said the centre was ‘‘world-leading’’ and would be ‘‘a real drawcard for the region and the New Zealand wine industry as a whole’’.
It would not have been possible without support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Marlborough District Council, she said.
Construction is expected to begin within the next month, with the goal of having the winery operational for vintage 2020.