Davide Rossi enjoys his scholarship experience in New Zealand.
New Zealand and Italy might be over 18,000 kilometres apart but passion for wine brings people together. Davide Rossi from Padua University in the Veneto region is this year’s EIT Bragato exchange scholar. He is midway through an enviable four week tour of New Zealand’s wine regions. The 16 year old scholarship is named after Romeo Bragato, the legendary Italian viticulturist who, more than 100 years ago, successfully identified New Zealand’s potential areas for winegrowing. The annual exchange is supported by the Rotary Club of Taradale, EIT and Winegrowers NZ.
Davide was only 15 years old when he undertook his first vintage. He was hooked immediately and decided to pursue a career in the industry. After finishing Conegliano high school, he was one of 75 students (from 200 hopefuls) who was accepted into the School of Viticulture and Oenology which is part of Padua University, one of the world’s oldest universities. Davide has just finished the second year of his degree.
Conegliano, which is also Davide’s home town is located between Verona and Venice in Veneto, a region famous for its Bardolino, Chiaretto and Prosecco. Despite his youth, Davide has already completed vintages across various regions in Italy and is developing a fine palate.
On his trip through New Zealand Davide has explored vineyards and wineries in Waiheke Island, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay and is now heading for Central Otago, Marlborough and Nelson. Davide also took part in the annual Bragato Conference which was held in Napier last week. At the event he raised a glass with his New Zealand counterpart, NZ Bragato scholarship winner Nealie Young from EIT who will set out for a four week tour of Italy in January 2020.
“New Zealanders are so friendly,” Davide raves about the people he met along the way. “My hosts even took me on walks and fishing trips.” Aside from the Kiwi hospitality, the ocean and empty beaches were another highlight of his trip. “I live quite close to popular Mediterranean beaches but they are too crowded for my liking. That’s why I used to go for swims in the Piave river close to my house where I can still find a quiet spot.”
Positive-side effects of his Kiwi experience is the opportunity to pick up new English (and Kiwi) words and to experience a different style of cuisine. Davide says that he has eaten a lot of great seafood. And tasted all sorts of amazing wine, of course.
“I really loved the Syrah that I tried at Trinity Hill,” he says admitting that he is usually more of a white wine drinker. “But anyway, my favourite wine is always the one that comes next.”