Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology

Willem Bruin uses knowledge he gained from his degree every day. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The course

The focus of Lincoln's three-year course - the only university bachelors degree in viticulture and oenology (BVO) in New Zealand - is on the production of quality grapes and wines in cool climates, regarded as being on the extreme of environments vines can produce in.

Graduates leave the course with a good understanding of how grapevines work, says course co-ordinator Glen Creasy.

As well as learning how to extract the best from the vineyard he says students learn how grapes must be treated in the winery to maintain quality through to the finished product.

"Not only do you learn about the procedures needed to produce grapes and wine, you also learn why things are done the way they are, and how to adapt to changing seasons and markets," Creasy says.

To ensure students graduate with sufficient exposure to both grape growing and winemaking the degree includes structured practical work with industry partners, during which they apply what they have learned in the classroom to practical production.

Some of the key subjects for this degree include: chemistry; soil science; horticultural systems; principles of wine science; vineyard and winery management; winery equipment and structures and grape pest and disease management.

Starting this year, there is also the option of a fourth year of BVO honours for those students wishing to enter into the world of research, potentially in co-operation with an industry partner.

Also delivered in Blenheim at the Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) campus this degree gives students who want to specialise in the viticulture side of wine production the opportunity to study and interact with staff at the new Marlborough Wine Research Centre.

Building on the pioneering grape and wine research begun by internationally respected Professor David Jackson and winemaker Danny Schuster (at Lincoln University), the BVO has grown to involve around 30 students in each of the three years of the course.

Entry into the programme is not limited in terms of numbers, but applicants must meet university entrance requirements, and Creasy says additional study in chemistry and biology can provide a useful head start.

Those wishing to take the BVO usually start at the beginning of the academic year (February), although mid-year entry is also available.

Though Lincoln University now charges for study on a subject-by-subject basis the tuition cost for the first year of the BVO degree will be around $4100.

What graduates think

Willem Bruins, 23
Cable Bay Vineyards, Waiheke Island
Assistant Manager
Graduated 2004

As an assistant manager you need to be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. But having completed Lincoln's degree in viticulture and oenology has helped me catch on to things a lot faster.

I use everything I learned in daily applications around the vineyard. For example, it's helped me with the timing of our current spray programme, and what sprays to use and why.

As well as giving me an excellent network of contacts, the degree has given me a solid general knowledge of viticulture, so much so that my manager can leave me to get on with things in the confidence that I know what I'm doing.

What employers think

Sam Theed
Vineyard Manager
Cable Bay Vineyards, Waiheke Island

It was very clear to me early on that the technical theory Willem gained on the Lincoln course equipped him well for a career in grape growing. That's especially true when it comes to the day-to-day running and the seasonal stuff.

For example, he knows things like when to spray, pruning, disease identification, soil management and what fertilisers to use. In addition to the practicality he displays I'm also impressed with his people-management skills.

The qualification

Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology
Lincoln University
Phone: 0800 10 60 10
Email: enrol@lincoln.ac.nz

Related Links

www.lincoln.ac.nz/v&o

http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/courses/bvo.htm

http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/v&o/bvo.htm