The Flying Vine Doctor

Richard Smart has been involved with viticulture since the mid 1960s, which makes him one of the most experienced viticultural consultants to be found. He graduated from Sydney University with Honours in Agricultural Science in 1966. Subsequently, he has acquired another three degrees. His M.Sc (Hons) from Macquarie University was gained with a study of sunlight use by vineyards, and his Ph. D from Cornell University in New York State, gave him the opportunity to study under the famous Professor Nelson Shaulis. In 1995 he was awarded a D. Sc. Agric. degree by the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in recognition of research into canopy management effects on vineyard yield and quality.

Most of Richard's career has been in viticultural research and teaching, at Griffith, NSW, at Roseworthy College in South Australia (including a period as Dean, Faculty of Oenology), and also as Government Viticultural Scientist in New Zealand. There he helped lay the technical foundations for an emerging, quality-oriented and internationally competitive wine industry. He has authored or co-authored over 200 publications, including the internationally acclaimed book Sunlight into Wine which is regarded as the standard reference on canopy management. Another significant achievement was as Viticultural Editor and principal contributor to the multi-award winning The Oxford Companion To Wine (1994 and 1999), edited by Jancis Robinson MW.

Richard Smart has helped to popularise the role of viticulture in the wine business, in an industry where the limelight is invariably given to winemakers. Richard's strong beliefs about winemaking in the vineyard have now become industry by-words, but this was not always the case. Feature articles about Richard in distinguished global wine magazines like The Wine Spectator, Decanter, Wine and Spirit International as well as international newspaper wine columns have helped spread the message.

Smart Viticulture operates from Launceston, Tasmania. Since the mid 1980s Dr Smart has also been involved in international consulting, initially on behalf of the NZ Government as a supplement to research. Consulting has been a full time occupation since 1991, and he has over 200 clients worldwide. Smart Viticulture (formerly Smart Viticultural Services) has contact offices in Europe (Portugal), North America (Windsor) and South America (Santiago). While many clients want to use Richard's expertise in canopy management to improve wine quality and vineyard yield, complete viticultural advice can be given on a range of issues like choice of site, variety, rootstock, irrigation and nutrition managemen. Smart Viticulture also offers seminars on canopy management (over 50 have been conducted to date around the world) as well as educational tours and intensive viticultural training.

CURRICULUM VITAE of RICHARD E. SMART

Date and place of birth: 6 March, 1945, Windsor, NSW
Citizenship: Australian

Publications
Authored or co-authored a total over 220 technical publications, including 3 theses, 29 research papers in refereed journals including 4 reviews, 1 book, 4 chapters in books, 1 major conference proceedings, 26 papers at scientific conferences, 73 papers in other conference/seminar proceedings, over 100 popular articles and 11 written reports. Also Viticulture Editor for the "Oxford Companion To Wine" published in 1994 and 1999, responsible for about 100,000 words.

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