Romeo Alessandro Bragato 1858
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ROMEO ALESSANDRO BRAGATO 1858 - 1913 ‘THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS WORK TO NEW ZEALAND’ THE EARLY YEARS Romeo Bragato was born in 1858 on the Adriatic island of Lussin Piccolo, at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now known as Mali Losinj – part of Croatia). His father was Giuseppe and his mother Paolina Depangher was from Vienna. The family may have been involved in salt extraction from sea water. Romeo was the eldest of a family of five children. His two brothers were Massimiliano (Max) and Giulio and his sisters were Marietta and Annelie. The two girls spent some of their school years in Lausanne, Switzerland. Romeo’s early schooling was at Pirano on the Istrian peninsular about 30 kms south of Trieste. He first trained as an architect in Vienna and then he attended the Regia Scuola di Viticoltura ed Enologia in Conegliano between 1879 & 1883. Conegliano is in the heart of the Veneto wine growing region. In his last year at Conegliano he gave two addresses, the first on 7 January 1883 on the previous harvest on the islands of Quarnaro & Dalmazia, and the second on 11 February 1884,discussed his findings on crop rotation. Bragato graduated in 1883 with the Diploma R.S.S.V.OE and returned to Lussin Piccolo where he was oenologist at the Istrian Association of Agriculture and later viticulturist and cellarmaster for the Gerolimiche brothers. AUSTRALIA Bragato travelled to Melbourne Australia in 1888 where he became Viticulturist to the Victorian Department of Agriculture. In 1889 he published a report on the potential for viticulture in the State of Victoria. Resulting from his evidence before the Royal Commission on Vegetable Products in Victoria Bragato was asked to do some preparatory work on establishing a school for viticulture and ecology. Based on the Conegliano model, Bragato established the framework for the school at Rutherglen, Victoria. The school opened in 1897. “Bragato laid a solid foundation on which Victoria’s present production of high quality wines was built” – Charles D’Aprano “Goldrush to Federation” 1995 Little else is known currently about his time in Australia, and it is the subject of further research. It is known that his brother Massimiliano also emigrated to Australia. (I now doubt this. A search of immigration records both by name and by vessel show no other Bragato in the period. However there are two families of Bragato in Victoria. I have written but received no replies.) I have researched this period and now have much information which I have included in his biography which I am currently writing - Kevyn Moore Sept 200 NEW ZEALAND 1895 Whilst employed by the government of Victoria, Bragato visited New Zealand at the request of Prime Minister R J (Dick) Seddon in 1895. Bragato landed at Bluff, at the southern extremity of the South Island of New Zealand, on 19 February 1895, and accompanied by a succession of Department of Agriculture employees and others, worked his way north looking at existing vineyards and inspecting areas where grapes might be grown for the production of wine. There were already vineyards in many areas and he tasted wines from these vineyards. On his return to Australia Bragato wrote a report 'Prospects of Viticulture and Instructions for Planting and Pruning.' This was presented to the New Zealand government on 10 September 1895. Bragato’s report identified the major grape growing regions of Central Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, Wairarapa (Martinborough), Hawke’s Bay, & Auckland, it provided illustrations on correct pruning of the vine, and supplied information on the correct layout for a vineyard. He found Phylloxera in Auckland and was concerned to determine how far it had spread. As a result he recommended the importation from Europe of American Phylloxera resistant vines. Bragato also made recommendations as to suitable varieties • Reisling, Pinot Blanc, Tokay, White Hermitage, Hermitage (Shiraz), • Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Dolcetto, Mueller Burgundy. When one looks at the regional spread of vineyards since about 1973 it is of much interest to consider remarks included in the Bragato report back in 1895. • Central Otago - “ Arrowtown, Cardrona, Wanaka, Cromwell, Bannockburn, Clyde are eminently suitable for the cultivation of the vine.” • Nelson - “ From what I saw in Nelson, I have no hesitation in advising residents to plant vines on a large scale.” • Wairarapa - “ The excellent example set by Mr Beetham and Mr Bunny will doubtless be shortly followed by numerous other settlers…” • Hawke’s Bay – “Hawke’s Bay province is, in my opinion, the most suitable for vine growing I have visited…” “ The advantages which the viticulture industry give to a country are many.” “ The wine industry is an immense source of wealth to a nation.” “…a competent body in each district would determine the most suitable varieties….Each district would subsequently gain notoriety for the wine produced as in the various famed wine districts of the Continent.” “ All the finer qualities of wine produced in the Old World are made from one or two varieties of grapes, thus showing the advisability of planting two or three varieties which are similar in taste and ripen at the same time” “ It is a fact beyond contention, except by the bigot, that in wine-drinking countries the people are amongst the most sober, contented, and industrious on the face of the earth” Despite glowing comments with regard to the climate, the suitability of soils, his high regard for local efforts to date, and despite the fact that his visit was at the invitation of the Prime Minister, nothing in Bragato’s 1895 report was acted upon. The only sign of interest was the enactment of the Orchard and Garden Pests Act 1896, which was designed to assist in the control of Phylloxera. In 1897 at his own behest Mr W.J. Palmer, pomologist for the Dept of Agriculture, planted one hectare of grapes at the Waerenga experimental station. In all 12 varieties were planted including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Chardonnay, Shiraz, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Malbec. In 1901 Bragato again travelled to New Zealand to visit vineyards, to report on the presence of the dreaded phylloxera, and to impart knowledge on winemaking. At that time he visited Waerenga, official government recognition was given to the vineyard, and the plantings were expanded to over 4.5 hectares. New Zealand 1902 - 1912 In 1902 the Government persuaded Bragato to come to New Zealand again. This time he came to stay and he accepted the job as Government Viticulturist with the Department of Agriculture. The government further expanded the viticulture research station at Waerenga (Te Kauwhata), about 80 kilometers south of Auckland. Bragato discovered that Phylloxera was quite widely spread and he organised the importation of phylloxera resistant rootstocks and new scion material. By 1905 the vineyard had expanded to 8 hectares with all new plantings grafted to American phylloxera resistant rootstocks. By 1907 all plantings on their own roots had been removed. Although many of those early imports have been lost, some still exist and during the past two years a strategy has been put in place to secure the future of this and other plant material in a national vineyard collection. This is in Canterbury and is being managed on a full time basis. Much is of dubious commercial value in the current market, but has high historical importance, and who knows what changes in popularity of grape variety and taste may occur in the future. To lessen the effects of Phylloxera, Bragato recommended using, according to soil type; • Riperia Gloire, 420a, 1616 • Rupestris du Lot, 1202, 1, • Riperia x Rupestris 3306, 3309, 101-14 Commonly used rootstocks today 1970 – 2001; • Riperia Gloire, 1202, 3306, 3309, 101-14, SO4 Bragato was insistent that only grafted plants be provided from the research station to growers and initially demand exceeded supply. Bragato held field days, and a train was even sent from Auckland. One who attended was A. A. Corban founder of Corbans Wines, a company which was destined to become one of New Zealand’s largest wine companies. These field days covered all aspects of viticulture practice and under his inspired teaching were well received by growers. Climatic comparisons carried out by Bragato produced some interesting figures. Average Temperature ºC Ideal Auckland Hawke’s Bay Bud Burst 12 - 13 12.6 14.4 Flowering 18.75 17.78 18.7 Mean Temperature ºC Bud burst - Veraison 17 - 21 19.6 18.2 Last 40 days 19 min 22.5 19.2 Bragato even compared rainfall to Conegliano Average rainfall over 4 years Conegliano Auckland Hawke’s Bay 1,260 mm 1050 mm 869 mm Bragato wrote a book ‘Viticulture in New Zealand’ which was published in 1906. In the book he set out exactly what was needed for wine growers to make fine wine. • Identified the regions • Identified the soils • Identified the varieties for each region • Identified the correct rootstocks to graft • Described how to layout a vineyard • Described the various methods of grafting • Described the various methods of pruning The vineyards at Waerenga (Te Kauwhata) and the experimental station flourished. The vineyards in New Zealand expanded from just 146 hectares in 1897 to 269 hectares in 1909. In 1908 six wines from the experimental station at Te Kauwhata were sent to London for the Franco-British wine exhibition. They were: Cabernet Pinot Noir Pineau Meunier Verdeilho Chardonnay Reisling All but Verdeilho won gold medals. By 1909 despite all of his efforts and initial enthusiasm from both government and growers some disillusionment had set in. Growers were afraid that the temperance movement would persuade government to bring in legislation to their detriment, and as a result vineyard planting slowed dramatically.