New New Zealand research winery on track to open this week
New Zealand winegrowers’ new research winery is on course to open this week.
The Marlborough-based Bragato Research Institute (BRI) will trial new technology and innovation, claiming it will ensure the New Zealand wine industry is kept at the cutting edge of modern grape growing and winemaking. It will also undertake research into more sustainable practices.
“This world class facility will enable the New Zealand wine industry to take research trials through to finished wines under tightly controlled experimental conditions,” said BRI’s chief executive Michael John Loza. “With wine industry exports now valued at $1.86 billion, BRI’s activities will support the ongoing sustainable growth of the industry through research and innovation.”
The BRI claims it has received “considerable interest” from both industry and researchers in the winery facilities, with the winery now nearing capacity for the coming vintage. Vintage 2020 trials will be carried out in partnership with the Plant and Food Research (PFR) and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).
“The entire project team have worked tirelessly to ensure we are up and running for vintage, and it’s fantastic to see both industry and researchers embracing this facility and everything it has to offer,” said Tracy Benge who has managed the project over the past two years.
The BRI was established in 2017 with $12.5m of government funding over four years, and is also backed by the Marlborough District Council and its owners, New Zealand Winegrowers.