BRIght Ideas: Leveraging Value from Winery Lees
Thousands of tonnes of Marlborough winery waste could be transformed into a valuable resource for vineyards through a new regional programme led by Bragato Research Institute.
“It was weekends spent visiting wineries around Marlborough that gradually convinced me this was the industry I wanted to work in,” says Bragato Research Institute’s Research Winemaker.
Francesca grew up in the province of Treviso in northern Italy, where her parents owned a plant and flower nursery and grew kiwifruit and Radicchio di Treviso, a traditional local vegetable. “I spent my childhood surrounded by plants and agriculture, which gave me a good understanding of how plants grow.”
When she was 17, Francesca spent a few months living on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast as part of an exchange, and fell in love with New Zealand. Five years later she returned on a working holiday visa, taking a job in a vineyard. At the time, she wasn’t particularly interested in wine, but weekends exploring Marlborough wineries grabbed her attention, and by the end of her three-year visa, Francesca had worked her way up to a vineyard manager.
Francesca went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Oenological Science at the University of Padova’s campus in Conegliano, graduating in July 2020 with the highest honours. “Studying in Conegliano now feels particularly special because it is home to Italy’s oldest school of viticulture and oenology and was also where Romeo Bragato studied.” She then completed a master’s degree in Viticulture, Oenology and Wine Marketing, specialising in New Frontiers in Viticulture and Oenology.
Francesca thought she would return to vineyard management, but during an Erasmus semester at Plumpton College in England, she completed her first vintage at Ridgeview Winery and fell in love with the other side of the industry. From then on, she spent every vintage she could in wineries, including experiences in England, France, Italy, New Zealand and Luxembourg.
Less than a week after her graduation ceremony in Italy, Francesca was back in Marlborough starting as Assistant Winemaker and Laboratory Supervisor at Hillersden Winery, where she progressed to Head Winemaker before joining BRI this year.
As Research Winemaker, Francesca designs and runs winemaking trials that address practical questions facing the wine industry. The role combines hands-on winemaking, experimental design, data collection, analysis and reporting, and involves working closely with researchers and industry partners to translate research into practical outcomes for wineries. “I love testing ideas, collecting data, challenging assumptions and discovering something new,” she says. “Being able to stay connected to practical winemaking while contributing to something bigger is probably the most rewarding part of the role.”
Sarah Rowley Adams is the Communications Manager, BRI. Read her full piece on Francesca at bri.co.nz/news/francesca-cavasin/
