For Richard and Graeme Bott, it’s going to be “like father, like son” at the Eastern Institute of Technology’s graduation.

Richard Bott is to be capped with a Graduate Diploma in Oenology while son Graeme will graduate with a Bachelor of Wine Science at the ceremony to be held at Napier’s Municipal Theatre on March 25. Graeme also has a Diploma in Grape Growing and Winemaking.

As it happens, it was Graeme’s studies that sparked his father’s interest in gaining a winemaking qualification.

Strong in science and maths, Graeme’s marks from high school’s Year 12 more than met the requirements to enrol in EIT’s degree programme, but he accepted the institute’s advice to find out first if he would enjoy working in the industry.

“So,” his father says, “he left our Auckland home at the age of 17 and worked at Church Road Winery for the first six months of the year. It was a huge learning experience, doing the long vintage hours, but this hard work developed rapidly into a passion. He got stuck in, and in a big way. ”

It was looking around Church Road Winery and Graeme’s detailed vintage updates that sparked his father’s interest in winemaking – and a yearning to also study the subject.

Richard, whose original degree is in mechanical engineering, had been working in process engineering and production management for 20 years when he saw his chance. His contract was coming to an end with the closure of a manufacturing plant in Auckland.

“I felt that was my opportunity; that if I didn’t try then I may not get the chance again.”

Enrolling for the graduate diploma programme’s distance option, he followed in his son’s footsteps in seeking industry experience, working the 2009 vintage at Matariki Wines.

It was an invaluable learning experience working at the wine company’s Hastings-based laboratory. The pace was full on monitoring the ferments and doing sample and wine analysis, as Matariki is an exceedingly busy and varied winery producing a range of styles under its own brand as well as contract winemaking.

Richard also spent the following vintage at Matariki, widening his experience with cellar work.

“The hardest part of doing the diploma was working vintage whilst studying for exams,” he recalls.

Richard is now looking for opportunities in the wine industry that will couple his management experience with his winemaking knowledge and skills.
Graeme already has his foot well inside the winery door.

After completing his studies, he did a northern hemisphere vintage at Domaine Michel et Stéphane Ogier in France’s Rhone Valley before returning to New Zealand – well-stocked up with stunning European wines. He has
also worked as assistant winemaker for Miro Vineyard on Waiheke Island. During his studies Graeme completed another vintage at Church Road Winery and three further vintages at Esk Valley Estate, where he was inspired by winemaker Gordon Russell.

Graeme is currently working at Clonakilla, a family-owned winery in the Murrumbateman wine region which enjoys a huge reputation for its flagship Shiraz Viognier wine.

Richard and Leanne, who live in Howick, will be thrilled to have their son fly over from Australia to make graduation a great family celebration.