Background

Having completed a BSc in General Agriculture from Edinburgh University in 1996 she started working in the wine industry in sales in Edinburgh and Oporto, Portugal and then moved into the production side of the wine industry. In 1999 she returned to university to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Viticulture from Adelaide University. Victoria has been working in viticulture in New Zealand since 2000 and has gained practical experience in her role as Viticultural Technician for Pernod Ricard NZ. She has also worked in wineries and vineyards in Portugal, Spain and Australia. She speaks several languages including French (fluently), Portuguese and Spanish.

Expertise

Over the last few years Victoria has spent time working on yield prediction methods, disease monitoring systems, soil moisture monitoring methods in vineyards. She has also spent time using on leaf water potentials of grapevine leaves. As part of her role at HortResearch she works on areas such as the Sauvignon Blanc Project looking primarily at the differences within the Marlborough region on vine physiology.

Current Research

Victoria is currently involved with various aspects of the following research programmes:

• New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (University of Auckland),
• Grapevine Variation (PQA - Foundation Research Science and Technology,
• Sustainability of soils,
• the weekly edition of Vinefax and grapevine susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea.

With these programmes field and laboratory work are part of her portfolio.