participants

National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC)

The National Wine and Grape Industry Centre is an unique initiative between NSW Agriculture, Charles Sturt University and the NSW Wine Industry Association. The locus of the NWGIC is the Ron Potter Centre at Charles Sturt University's Wagga Wagga Campus. Staff of the NWGIC are housed at the Ron Potter Centre as well as at Griffith, Dareton, Orange and Maitland.

The resources of the three partners have been combined to undertake integrated research, development, education and training projects to ensure that the wine industry maintains its internationally competitive edge.

Through Charles Sturt University (Australian University of the Year 1997), the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre has an established reputation for providing higher education to the Australian wine industry. Undergraduate and postgraduate programs in viticulture and oenology are available and these programs are well supported through the on-site commercial and experimental wineries and the commercial vineyard.

The National Wine and Grape Industry Centre has an innovate and diverse research program encompassing wine chemistry, wine flavour and phenolic chemistry, sustainable vineyard management, vine pathology, microbiology, vine physiology and precision viticulture.

The co-location of research and extension staff (appointed by NSW Agriculture) together with extension staff operating throughout NSW ensures that research outcomes are transferred to users. Further, involvement of extension staff in the design of research projects ensures that the projects address the research priorities of the industry.

The Centre provides vocational education and training in conjunction with Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture. Formal training programs (WINETAC courses) as well as a series of workshops, seminars and publications are arranged to keep the industry informed of best management practices.

Website: www.csu.edu.au/nwgic