the science of wine MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE of EXCELLENCE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2005 / 2006 Part science. Part craft. A symbiosis of centuries’ old traditions and leading edge technologies. The Marlborough Research Centre has become a recognised leader in the pursuit of solutions and improved results for the viticultural, agricultural and horticultural industries... identifying solutions to problems yet to be realised, and providing vital support and guidance to these fields of endeavour so integral to New Zealand’s place in the world economy. MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST Trustees John Marris - Chair Bernie Rowe Edwin Pitts Marlborough Research Executive Officer Marlborough Wine Centre Board Gerald Hope Research Centre Board Local funding for research (03) 577 2377 or 0274 331 059 Local & national research Rowley Vineyard Marlborough Wine Grovetown Park Campus 5.5ha Sauvignon Blanc Research Centre S.H. 1, Grovetown Rowley Crescent 85 Budge Street, Blenheim Grovetown Dr Mike Trought, Research Leader Commercial Campus Research & Education Collaborators Tenant Wine Marlborough Marketing Manager, Tom Trolove Lincoln University of University Auckland Tenant Nelson HortResearch Marlborough Liaison Scientist, Rob Agnew Institute of Technology Tenant RMH & Associates Richard Hunter Tenant Sustainable Winegrowing Sally Van der Zijpp National Coordinator 1 MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS PERSONNEL 3 FUNDING CONTRIBUTORS 4 REPORTS Marlborough Research Centre Trust & Marlborough Research Centre Board 5 Marlborough Wine Research Centre Board 8 Marlborough Wine Research Centre 10 THE YEAR IN REVIEW Research visitors 14 Visitors 14 Seminars 16 Refereed papers 16 Popular press / Conference & workshop papers / Fact sheets / Posters 16 NEW STAFF 19 SCIENCE REPORTS Yield management and prediction 20 Light, photosynthesis and carbohydrate management 25 Characterisation of volatile and non-volatile fruit composition and quantifi cation of the infl uence of fruit processing and winemaking on their concentration 33 Infl uence of soil texture, moisture and fertility on volatile and non-volatile composition of fruit 39 Vine and fruit health 53 Miscellaneous 61 FINANCIAL REPORTS for the year ended 30 June 2006 76 2 MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT PERSONNEL AS AT 30 JUNE 2006 Marlborough Research Centre Trustees John Marris Chairman Edwin Pitts Trustee Bernie Rowe LL.B Trustee Gerald Hope Executive Offi cer Marlborough Research Centre Board Members Edwin Pitts Chairman Francis Maher Marlborough District Councillor Michelle Williams B.Hort.Sc(Hons), PhD HortResearch Ivan Sutherland VFM(Lincoln), ANZIV Marlborough District Council Appointee Marlborough Wine Research Centre of Excellence Board Ivan Sutherland VFM(Lincoln), ANZIV Dog Point Vineyard (Chairman) Andy Frost BSc(Hons) Pernod Ricard New Zealand Ltd Brian Jordan BSc(Hons), PhD Lincoln University Philip Manson BSc, DipBus NZ Winegrowers Damian Martin PhD Winegrowers of ARA (seconded) Bruce Campbell B.Agr.Sc(Hons), PhD HortResearch Lily Belabun BSc, PhD (London) Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Ken Rogers Framingham (Retired) Marlborough Wine Research Centre Employees Mike Trought BSc(Hons), PhD Research Leader Wendy Parr BA(Hons), PhD Senior Research Offi cer: Wine (Wine Science & Psychology) Sensory Science Christina Balmori MSc(Hons) Laboratory Manager Kerrie Stronge BS, M.Appl.Sc(Hons) Winery Technician Jeff Bennett BSc(Hons), PhD Research Offi cer Trevor Skilton Field Technician Joanne Brady Science Associate [Resigned December 2005] Trust Support Staff Serena Cheesman Executive Support Administrator Cherryl Fitzgerald Financial Administrator HortResearch (Tenant) Rob Agnew BAgrSc Liaison Scientist Cherryl Fitzgerald Research Centre Administrator Marc Greven BAgSc(Hons), PhD Scientist Dion Mundy BSc, MSc(Hons) Scientist Sue Neal DipHort, DipFieldTech Research Associate Margaret Roberts BHSc Technician Bruce West Technician RMH & Associates (Tenant) Richard Hunter Scientifi c Offi cer Marlborough Winegrowers Assn Inc (Tenant) Tom Trolove BCom, MBA Marketing Manager Sarah Booker Administration & Events Manager Sustainable Winegrowing NZ (Tenant) Sally van der Zijpp M.Appl.Sc(Hons) National Coordinator Karen Bryant Administrator Rowley Vineyard Alan Robertson Vineyard Manager 3 MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FUNDING CONTRIBUTORS Funding Contributors To Marlborough Wine Research Centre as at 30 June 2006 New Zealand Winegrowers Kaituna Valley Pernod Ricard New Zealand Ltd Kim Crawford Wines Ltd Ager Sectus Lawson’s Dry Hills Wines Ltd Allan Scott Wines & Estates Ltd Marlborough Bottling Company Ltd Babich Wines Ltd Matua Valley Wines Ltd Cellier Le Brun Ltd Mud House Wine Company Ltd Charles Wiffen Wines Ltd New Zealand Wineries Ltd Clifford Bay Estate Ltd Nobilo Wine Group Ltd Cloudy Bay Vineyards Ltd Ormond Nurseries Ltd Delegat’s Wine Estate Ltd Riversun Nursery Ltd Domaine Georges Michel Ltd Sacred Hill Wines Ltd Forrest Estate Winery Ltd Spy Valley Wines Fromm Winery The New Zealand Wine Company Ltd Goldwater Estate Tohu Wines Ltd Highfi eld Estate Vavasour Wines Ltd Huia Vineyards Ltd Villa Maria Estate Ltd Hunter’s Wines (NZ) Ltd Whitehaven Wine Company Ltd Jackson Estate Ltd Wine Marlborough 4 MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST & MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE BOARD Chairmen’s Report We are delighted at the way the wine research projects will be delegated to sauvignon blanc grapes by public tender Marlborough Research Centre has grown the Marlborough Wine Research Board, resulted in competitive pricing. and widened its research activities in just effective from 1 July 2006. After two full over two years since its establishment at the years of trading activity managed solely Rental income from Grovetown Park and Budge Street premises. by the Trust, it is appropriate that the the Budge Street campus remained steady Board should take over responsibility for and consistent with 2004/05. Grovetown Capability was boosted during the wine research, including identifi cation of Park has retained all sitting tenants. year with the appointment of several new research areas capable of attracting The one offi ce that remains untenanted new Centre staff, and HortResearch is major funding. However, legal and fi ducial is available to a compatible business or planning to establish two new positions responsibility ultimately remains with the organisation. at the Centre in 2006/07. Between them, Trust. A separate set of operating accounts these appointments will increase the total will be set up for wine research and will Capital reserves have been consolidated research team by 50 percent. be managed by the Research Leader in where appropriate into secure term deposits conjunction with the Executive Offi cer. with Bank of New Zealand. As the Centre’s capacity increases, we need Further delegations will be handed down to monitor demands in terms of space. To to project managers to ensure hands-on Primary revenues during the year were: this end, the Trust’s cash reserves have been involvement in funding matters and more built up to allow a staged and affordable direct responsibility for specifi c research • Research revenue $847,000 growth path. contracts. They will report back to the • Grape sales $222,000 Wine Research Board which, in turn, will • Rental income $142,000 Our highly successful Rowley Vineyard report to the Trust. • Marlborough District has provided a good source of capital for Council grant $110,000 investment into research, complementing Appropriation of working capital and • Interest received $60,000 other revenue such as the annual grant requests for capital items will be referred the Trust receives from the Marlborough to the Trust. Annual reporting on Marlborough District Council Grant District Council. Inevitably, there will be research progress and fi nancial position Approved research allocation summary substantial calls on capital in future years as and performance remains with the Trust A schedule of research programmes the Centre goes from strength to strength. through a consolidated set of accounts. approved by the Marlborough Research Accordingly, we are very mindful of the Centre Board and Trust for horticulture, need for careful management of fi nancial Financial Performance viticulture and agriculture is based on resources. Trust income during the year remained existing Trust allocation policy. That policy positive, with a healthy increase in revenue is for 60 percent of Council funding being During the year we carried out a fi nancial from Rowley Vineyard as a result of volume applied to horticulture/viticulture and 40 planning review, from which it was increasing by 33 percent, from 60 tonnes percent to agricultural pastoral research. decided that the future management of in 2005 to 80 tonnes in 2006. Sale of the 5 MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE TRUST & MARLBOROUGH RESEARCH CENTRE BOARD Project summary: It has also given the Trust an opportunity Horticulture/viticulture to plan ahead in a manner that fi ts with the Meteorological data recording and dissemination 15,000 strategic direction and future growth set by Long-term vineyard sustainability 20,000 the Wine Research Board. These plans will Investigation of grapevine trunk diseases 15,000 be referred to the Trust for consideration The effects of CCA on grapes, soil and water 15,000 of methods of funding and the timing Agriculture of capital investment to meet the desired Winter-active pasture species 15,000 increased research capability.