Industry honour for viticulturist

Kerry Degaris  TBW Newsgroup
PRESTIGIOUS: Treasury Estate Wines viticulturist Dr Kerry DeGaris has been named viticulturist of the year at the recent Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology awards. Picture: JOHN KRUGER

Kerry Degaris TBW Newsgroup
PRESTIGIOUS: Treasury Estate Wines viticulturist Dr Kerry DeGaris has been named viticulturist of the year at the recent Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology awards. Picture: JOHN KRUGER

LIMESTONE Coast viticulturist Dr Kerry DeGaris was recognised this week when she was named as the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Viticulturist of the Year.

The award honours outstanding viticulturists who demonstrate a broad positive contribution to the Australian wine industry and acknowledge adoption of innovative practices, technologies or standards.

Society award committee chair Liz Riley described Dr DeGaris as an exceptional communicator.

“It is that willingness to collaborate and work with industry beyond your region and that generosity with knowledge; there are people who do it really well and Kerry is certainly one of them,” she said.

Dr DeGaris is a technical viticulturist for Treasury Wine Estates based in Coonawarra and is also the chair of the technical sub-committee of the Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council.

Grape council executive officer Ulrich Grey-Smith has been instrumental in facilitating and conducting research and extension in the Limestone Coast.

“Kerry has really made a difference in terms of research inroads in this region and has fostered some strong and productive relationships between local growers, PhD students and other up-and-coming researchers,” he said.

Projects steered by Dr DeGaris have enabled growers to better understand and manage a range of challenges including eutypa, iron bacteria in irrigation water, salinity and cabernet berry shrivel.

Her work has also included winemaking trials from rootstock trials, while her passion for locally-targeted research has resulted in development of numerous fact sheets, webinars and workshops which are now used at a national level.

Award recipients are nominated by society-appointed selection committees comprised of individuals who are distinguished in the fields of viticulture and oenology.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate’s Dr Catherine Kidman was among the finalists along with Brown Family Wine Group chief viticulturist Brett McClen.

“It was an extremely tight, high-calibre field and certainly the toughest year in which I have had to judge, which really reflects the depth of the industry at the moment and all three viticulture finalists were extremely worthy contenders,” Ms Riley said.

McLaren Vale winemaker Corrina Wright was named winemaker of the year, claiming the title from 2018 winner Balnaves of Coonawarra chief winemaker Pete Bissell.