Thursday 12/04/08 - Beer Wine
Not Your Orthodox Way Of Learning About Wine?
Nowadays young people who have the foresight to actually plan a career in wine can choose from a plethora of study programmes that focus on different academic aspects of wine. Not so long ago, however, there was hardly any professional wine education available.
It is thanks to unorthodox devotees like Alan Robb Hickinbotham, for example, that there are now professional wine courses around as organised by universities, colleges and qualified independent lecturers.
You will be struggling to find mention of him in any of the oenology history books. And yet, in 1932 Australian Alan Robb Hickinbotham, or 'Hick' - as he was more affectionately known - established the very first oenology diploma course at Roseworthy Agricultural College (now Adelaide University).
Hick joined Roseworthy in 1929. At the time, viticulture and oenology were included in the agriculture curriculum but only as an optional subject taken in the third year. This was the time of the Depression and soon Hick's viticulture and oenology scholars became headhunted by wineries who could no longer afford hiring French or German trained winemakers. Soon the 12 monthly ?cadetship? was further developed as a two-year ?Diploma of Oenology?.
One of Hick's first?s cadets was Ray Beckwith, a young man who was to become instrumental, together with winemaker Max Schubert, in overseeing the birth of Grange Hermitage. Hick was much liked by his dedicated ex-students and earned the respect of the wine industry for his frank pragmatism. He was involved in many industry 'firsts'.
The use of the glass electrode pH meter at Penfolds has been attributed to his foresight and expertise, and its widespread implementation has helped Australia?s wines gain international recognition. Hick fought his battle with most Australian winemakers who wrongly believed that malolactic fermentation did not occur in Australia?s red wines. As early as 1932 he was warning of salt build-up in the soils in many South Australian vineyards and gave advice on how to remedy it. In an article in 1947, he suggested the industry should look at planting grape varieties from other countries with similar terroirs. The recent plantings of nebbiolo, barbera, dolcetta and sangiovese go to show that Australian winemakers are now embracing this idea ? some 50 years on.
In the same pioneering spirit as Hick?s, wine institutes and colleges all over the world have meanwhile made wine education more accessible. The Mediterranean Campus of the European Wine Academy is one such leading institute. It explores new, unorthodox avenues like the modern teaching method called ?distance learning? or ?e-learning?. The professional wine courses series at the Wine Business School of the Mediterranean Campus are designed to reach any student anywhere as long as he or she has the interest, a computer and an Internet connection.
Inspired by free thinkers such as Alan Robb Hickinbotham, wine professionals are being shaped in many different disciplines of wine, and in modern ways, too, by utilising up-to-date technologies and effective methods such as distance learning. Probably not even ?old Hick? could have foreseen this way of learning about wine.
|
About The Author Georges Meekers is a well-respected wine writer and wine educator based in Europe. He contributes to trade publications and sits as a judge on wine tasting panels. He can be contacted via www.winecampus.org.
View their website at: www.winecampus.org
|
Thoughts about Beer Wine
Not Your Orthodox Way Of Learning About Wine?
Nowadays young people who have the foresight to actually plan a career in wine can choose from a plethora of study programmes that focus on different ...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Beer Wine Products we recommend
The FTD Pink Assortment - Deluxe
An assortment of blooming pink plants in a basket will perk up their day. C32-2961D
Price: 95.99 USD
Current Beer Wine News
I Don’t Think I Should Have To Wrap Your Hookers for You
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:02:28 -0800
Wade: Well, oh my! I sure am stuffed! My, my goodness! Got ourselves a nice little Thanksgiving break there. Always does a man good, I tell you what. You know, this time of year is always so hectic. But I think we’re well-prepared this time. I know we got those pesky Steelers coming up. And we’re still chasing a playoff spot. But I feel good about where we are. Yep, I think we’re gonna have a much more stable December round these parts. Nope, no crises here at Valley Ranch of any sort! No em
Good Wine (KYIV Post)
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:56:49 -0800
Located in Kyiv's Pechersk district, Good Wine claims to be Europe’s largest wine supermarket.
Politicians in the service of Israel shame us all
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:03:00 -0800
Who could have believed that by Christmas 2008 the int'l community would still turn a blind eye to Israel’s persecution of Christians & Muslims?By Stuart Littlewood – LondonPosted by Atheo NewsChristian hotels in the Holy Land as well as Catholic and Anglican churches in the UK face Christmas without Bethlehem wine as Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint at Hebron are refusing to allow lorries carrying the wine to enter Israel. The wine is made by a Roman Catholic religious order, the Salesians of
Countdown to Christmas: Edible Japanese-y Gifts ($$$$)
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:15:17 -0800
Okay. I never play up my Japanese roots. I would be lying if I said I was sorry for I am not. I am too EFin impatient to explain anything that has to do with my culture to those unfamiliar. But it’s Christmas, holidays, whatever the PC (not hardware) term is, and I am in the spirit of giving. So for any and all that may be interested in giving something Japanese-y, I hope this will help. Be forewarned if you’re on a budget I would recommend closing this window. Hey - it’s not my fault my people’
What's hot in wine: fun labels and good values (The Capital Times)
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:30:46 -0800
Working in a wine shop close to the holidays is a bit like being thrown into the middle of a basketball game when you thought you were playing golf. Normally, wine shop jockeys can take their time with each customer, discussing pairings and flavor profiles. But starting around Thanksgiving, it's a different story. Customers have wildly diverse needs: While one couple wants to assemble a case of ...
Why We Should Be Seriously Contemplating The Great Depression
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:30:12 -0800
Revelation 6:6 - “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” There are plenty of financial experts out there assuring us that any comparison between our current economic situation and the Great Depression are utterly baseless. The problem is that most of these experts are either demonstrated hypocrites who have themselves compared our economy to the Great Depressi
German Wine
Riesling Wine
Conundrum Wine
Labels: Wine Industry | Wine Ingredients
