Mission Estate scholarship winner Brenton O’Riley checks flowering in EIT’s on-campus vineyard

Winning a Mission Estate Wine and Viticulture Scholarship will give EIT student Brenton O’Riley the opportunity to take part in important research comparing organic and conventional approaches to growing grapes.

In the second year of EIT’s Bachelor of Viticulture and Bachelor of Wine Science Concurrent Degree, Brenton will use his 60 days of paid work experience at Mission Estate to look at how natural predation varies between organic and conventionally managed vineyard blocks.

His findings will form part of the Organic Focus Vineyard Project, an initiative spearheaded by Mission Estate viticulturist Caine Thompson and supported by the wine company, Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand and New Zealand Winegrowers.  Launched in late 2010, the trials have been extended to include vineyards in other New Zealand wine regions.

The Hawke’s Bay winery’s scholarship will also provide $1500 towards Brenton’s final-year course fees.

The 23-year-old’s work at Mission Estate will also underpin a research project he is required to undertake as a third-year EIT degree student.

Formerly from Palmerston North, Brenton completed a building apprenticeship before deciding to pursue his passion for wine and  grapegrowing.

“EIT is immersed in the whole industry here in Hawke’s Bay,” he says, “and my lecturers are really cool. Everyone goes out of their way to help you.”

Brenton was recently awarded a bronze medal for the 2010 Chardonnay he entered in EIT’s annual student wine show.  A blend he made this year from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon,Sangiovese and Merlot fruit is also looking promising, he says.

Mission Estate’s scholarship package acknowledges the pioneering spirit of the Marist fathers who first planted vines in Hawke’s Bay. The scholarship is aimed at supporting research work that helps promote Hawke’s Bay’s reputation as one of the world’s leading wine regions.