The Bragato Exchange Scholarship
The Link
At the instigation of Club member Kevyn Moore, a Life Member New Zealand Grape Growers Council, the Club has been co-sponsoring the Bragato Scholarship to foster an ongoing link between the Scuola di Viticultura ed Enologia, Conegliano, Italy and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Hawke’s Bay New Zealand. Recently the Rotary Club of Conegliano has joined the programme as a co-sponsor. The Club makes a contribution of $1000 to assist the outward bound New Zealand scholar.
The Bragato Study Exchange Award recognises an historical connection between Conegliano and New Zealand, dating from 1895 when Romeo Bragato, an ex student of the Regia Scuola di Viticultura ed Enologia dei Conegliano, visited New Zealand.
Kevyn Moore
Scuola di Viticultura ed Enologia, Conegliano, Italy
EIT Wine Sciences
Romeo Bragato
Romeo went on to become the New Zealand government viticulturalist from 1902 to 1909. He recognised the potential for the New Zealand wine industry, identified many grape growing areas, made international award winning wines, held field days for growers, lectured widely and published booklets on viticulture and wine making practices.
Many of the ideas expounded by Romeo Bragato still form part of the modern New Zealand wine making industry.
Since 2003, students from Italy have travelled to NZ to study NZ viticulture based at EIT and NZ students have been to Italy in exchange.
Romeo Bragato
Principal of La Scuola Enologica di Conegliano
On August 24th, 2005, Dott Giacinto Feletto, Principal of La Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, his wife Egidia Bottega, were welcomed to a special evening held in the Matariki Cellars. He was introduced to members by Kevyn Moore.
Giacinto explained that he has been the school’s principal since 2000 and is in his final year before retirement. The school which was established in 1876, is in fact a secondary school where students arrive at age 14 to study viticulture and oenology in a 6 year course. However they are faced with change in trying to adopt standards common within the EEC whereby students would be required to complete 3 years of university education to gain their qualification. Giacinto is justifiably proud of the growth of the school which has seen the roll increase from 640 students in 2000 to 1030 in 2005.
Giacinto thanked Kevyn Moore for his organisation of the exchange programme and also thanked the Taradale Rotary Club for its initiatives in promoting the technical and friendship aspects of the programme. He also acknowledged the participation of EIT and their wine faculty. Giacinto presented the club with a picture of the school along with 2 scrolls; the first being a 1921 scroll which contained the signatures of those dignitaries present when the school’s first stone was laid; the second being an 1886 scroll giving notice of the opening of the school.
Dott Giacinto Feletto Principal of La Scuola Enologica di Conegliano
In Memory of Diane Marshall
Diane Marshall retired in 2016 after 11-plus years as head of EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science, rounding off a career in education that spanned more than 41 years.
Chief executive Chris Collins said Ms Marshall had shown leadership, commitment and passion in her role at EIT and she had left the school in a better place than when she started. Under her aegis, the school’s suite of programmes has developed into New Zealand’s widest range of viticulture and wine science qualifications covering grape growing, winemaking, wine business and wine marketing.
It was during her tenure that the Bachelor of Wine Science and the Bachelor of Viticulture became the first of EIT’s 12 bachelor degrees to be studied online as blended learning programmes.
“I loved the job and it kept me in contact with the wine industry and on the fringe of people doing research.”
Other EIT highlights included staging three wine business symposiums that were well-supported by the industry and developing industry contacts with people such as Kevyn Moore, who initiated the Bragato exchange scholarship for students at EIT and a viticultural school in northern Italy.
EIT’s former Head of School Viticulture and Wine Science Diane Marshall died peacefully in Hawke’s Bay’s Cranford Hospice on January 24 2018
"We will all miss her warm smile, infectious enthusiasm, and keenness."
Written by Kevyn Moore.
The Bragato Student Exchange between the EIT, Hawkes Bay and the Conegliano Scuola of Viticulture and Oenology has been operative since 2003.
For the past twelve years, as EIT Head of School for Wine Sciences at EIT, Diane Marshall has been a vital key in the outstanding success of this education programme.
Diane was warm, kind, always available and a great supporter of the involvement of the Rotary Club of Taradale.
Diane was always fully supportive of the awards to the students, and keenly interested in the study programmes put in place.
Tribute from Giovanni Mariani (Scuola di Viticultura ed Enologia, Conegliano)
Diane Marshall’s untimely passing has left us deeply sad, because we have lost a dear friend.
We’ll miss her company, her warm generosity and her brilliant mind. But on the other hand we’re happy we got the chance to know her and enjoy all the time we spent with her.
The work she did for the Bragato Student Exchange was invaluable, and her memory will live on in our hearts and souls for as long as we live.
Diane at the EIT Awards June 2016
| Bragato Scholarship Winners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | ITALIAN SCHOLARS | NEW ZEALAND SCHOLARS | ||
| 2003 |  | Andrea Miotto Andrea was the first recipient of the Bragato Scholarship. He returned to NZ for “THE 2008 VINTAGE”. When he came initially, he had no idea that wine was made in NZ. - his grandfather thought NZ was about “sheep and things”! He had his first week in Auckland, followed by Hawke's Bay, Marlborough with the fourth and final week in Wellington and Martinborough before returning to Italy for a final year of study. Since then he has visited and experienced wine areas in Argentina and California’s Napa Valley. This was capped off by 3 more years at university to attain his degree. He now has his own vineyard. Back in Italy he has had an ongoing involvement with Bragato and has met all the Exchange. | ||
| 2004 |  | Alberto Gianduzzo Alberto, 19, came from San Dona di Piave about 40km north east of Venice and in the heart of the Piave DOC region - famous for raboso, cabernet and merlot red wines. |  | Grant Roberts Grant went to Conegliano, Nth Italy, for a month long visit to learn all aspects of the Italian Viticulture industry. He currently has his own vineyard in Dartmoor and produces his own wine. |
| 2005 |  | Bruno Cecchetto Bruno is from Soffratta, a small city of Mareno di Piave, near to Conegliano. It is located in Treviso province, in the region of Veneto. His father cultivates major northern Italian varieties: Grey Pinot, Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Prosecco and two of native varieties: Raboso Piave and Verduzzo Trevigiano. |  | Hayden Penny Hayden did a double degree in Viticulture & Wine Science and has achieved outstanding academic results. He has been a member of the Taradale Volunteer Fire Brigade since 2003. He was captain of the Napier Old Boys Marist premier rugby team and a member of the Westshore Surf Lifesaving Club. |
| 2006 |  | Elisa Ferarri Elisa comes from a family of four and her father is a grape grower in the Treviso area. Their vineyard covers 6 hectares. The premier grape of the area is the Proseco variety which grows well on the sandstone soils with good drainage. The grapes are harvested by hand and gently pressed before being chilled, separated and fermented. |  | Renee Dale Renee comes from Auckland. She has represented New Zealand in soccer, both at Secondary School and Women’s age group. She is 19 years of age and is in her 2nd year at E.I.T., studying Bachelor of Wine Sciences. She is an excellent student academically and a personable, quiet achiever. She is highly motivated and has been an excellent ambassadress for both E.I.T. and Taradale Rotary. |
| 2007 |  | Enrico Battiston Enrico comes from Musile di Piave, a little village about 50 kilometres from Venice. He attends the fifth year of Cerletti’s school, agricultural and oenologist college in Conegliano. During the week he lived in Conegliano and after school had a job in the “Veneto agricoltura’s” winery, an experimental centre inside the school’s winery. |  | Desirée Janson Desiree grew up in a rural community, Maungatapere, not far from Whangarei where the green pastures were plentiful and the only grapevines to be found were in people’s backyards. "I have a younger sister and brother My mother and father ran an agricultural and horticultural contracting business. My first experiences of winemaking were my Poppas homebrew barrels and his many experimentations, which occasionally resulted in exploding flagons!." |
| 2008 |  | Chiara Masiero Chiara writes "My name is Chiara Masiero, I’m 18 years old and I live in a small village, called Breda di Piave, in the province of Treviso near Conegliano. I’m an only child. I studying in the fifth year at the “G.B. Cerletti”school of Viticulture & Oenology in Conegliano. I enjoy the oenology course because the subjects are very interesting. When I finish my studies at the Conegliano school in 2009, I am going to university and then I plan to work in a winery." |  | Alex Roper Alex writes.."I grew up in Hamilton and attended Knighton normal school. I moved onto Southwell School between the ages of 9 and 12, then went to Fairfield College all the way through to the end of 7th Form. I am working part time at the Mission Estate Winery cellar door, and I am extremely pleased with my choice to study wine and viticulture. The topics fascinate me and I have learned a huge amount. That once far-fetched idea of becoming a winemaker seems very achievable now." |
| 2009 |  | Alessandro Zanetton "I live in a small village, called San Giovanni in Valdobbiadene, in the province of Treviso, 30 kilometres from Conegliano. My family has 30 hectares of vineyards and sometimes I work there at weekends and in the holidays. My village is into the DOC Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, an Appellation of origin in the Veneto region. |  | Matt Fox Matt writes: "My commitment is to achieve well. I am an enthusiastic and committed student with a real passion for the industry. This is evident as while studying I have immersed myself in the grape and wine industry by having jobs in both areas. These include my many vintages both in New Zealand and overseas, plus the many years I have spent working in vineyards." |
| 2010 |  | Mattia Spagnol "I come from the region of Treviso in the north of Italy. I live in a small village called Colbertaldo. I like jogging and playing soccer, I love reading and listening to music. I like travelling also and meeting new people and sharing opinions about everything. During the time I’m not studying I work with my brother and my dad in cellar or in the vineyards." |  | Tom Lovelock Tom has lived in Australia and travelled extensively through Europe, the United States, Mexico and Central America, before migrating to the Hawke's Bay at the start of 2009 and enrolling in concurrent wine science and viticulture degrees at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Since early 2009 he has had a permanent part-time position at Moana Park winery, with roles in both the winery and vineyard. |
| 2011 |  | Nicola Manzan "I live in Oderzo, a small town in the province of Treviso about 30 kilometres from Conegliano and about 50 kilometres from Venice." "My passion for studying oenology was born during my holiday in Tuscany, especially in the “Chianti Classico” area, where I remained impressed by the local quality, viticulture, and wine making techniques." |  | Sophie Harris My name is Sophie Harris, I am twenty three years old, and currently in my second year of a Bachelor of Wine Science at EIT, Taradale. I started at EIT in 2009 after having had a small taste of the Wine Industry through completing two vintages, one in Marlborough and the other in Hawke’s Bay. |
| 2012 |  | Andrea Bresolin I’m 19 years old. I’m was born in Pordenone but I live with my family in Pasiano, a small village in the province of Pordenone, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region in the North-east of Italy. Pasiano is in the boundary with Veneto, other region, where my school is. |  | Brenton O'Riley My most recent achievement, being awarded the Bragato Student Exchange Scholarship, has provided me another great opportunity to develop my own knowledge within the wine industry. I will travel to Italy with the exchange program and learn from viticulturists and wine growers. With this fantastic overseas experience, i will be able to share my experiences with others, within the New Zealand wine industry. |
| 2013 |  | Alice Bottarel I live in Colbertaldo, a small town near Conegliano and Treviso. I live here with my family; we are four. My mother, my father, my sister and I. I look forward to joining you in New Zealand to start a new adventure. |  | Daniel Andrews From Auckland - I entered the winemaking industry with a marketing and commerce background, passionate about creating new world classic wines. My decision to study the concurrent degree of Wine Science and Viticulture at Eastern Institute of Technology was to enable me to work in a field that excites me, and will enable me to follow a dream. |
| 2014 |  | Christopher Bonifacio Christopher spoke to the Club saying " I am 19 years old and I come from Barbisano, a small village near Venice. I am a student and I am attending the fifth year of the vinegrowing and winemaking course at the Scuola Enologica, Conegliano." |  | Ben Tombs On return Ben spoke to the Club and expressed his appreciation for its support and especially Kevyn Moore for making the exchange a very memorable one. Ben indicated he would like to travel overseas at the completion of his degree next year before returning to NZ to continue his wine making career. |
| 2015 |  | Alessandro Mangiameli I’m 18, and I live in Nervesa della Battaglia, a nice town near Treviso. I study Viticulture and Enology at I.S.I.S.S. “GB Cerletti”, an important school in Conegliano, and I like it. |  | Jascha Oldham-Selak I am a third generation NZ born descendant of the Selak family, on my mothers’ side. The Selaks first arrived in New Zealand, from Croatia, in the early 1900’s. My grandfather Sam Selak at times worked in both the vineyards and the Selak winery which was established in 1934. |
| 2016 | Kevyn Moore Italy did not send a student in 2016.They were in the middle of a curriculum change. The Conegliano Scuola gave away the final year and it was added to the University of Padua curriculum. Since that time the student is actually doing first year at Padua, but Conegliano has been funding. As a consequence of these changes, no Italian student visited N.Z. in 2016 as a Bragato Scholar. |  | Ben Richards A double degree student at EIT, Ben headed to Valdobbiadene in Italy over his summer break as this year’s Romeo Bragato exchange scholar. The 21-year old, who grew up on a dairy farm in Matamata, is currently in his 4thyear of studying for the Bachelor of Viticulture and Bachelor of Wine Science. |
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| 2017 |  | Nicola Geronazzo My name is Nicola Geronazzo, I’m 21 years old and I live in Valdobbiadene, a small village in the heart of Prosecco Superior area, in the province of Treviso. I’ve always been a rugby fan and I played as flanker until I was 16, so I’m really excited to visit the land of this sport! |  | Alexandra Peter Alexandra was the 14th student from Hawkes Bay to travel to Italy as a Bragato Scholar. She lived in Sardinia for 7 months in 2011 when doing her OE. |
| 2018 |  | Mirko Rasera I'm Mirko Rasera, I live in Nervesa della Battaglia a small village near Treviso, in northern Italy. I was born in 03/04/1997 and I’m 21. I finished technical school at ITAS GB Cerletti, in Conegliano 2 years ago and now I’m studying Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Padua. |  | Douw Grobler I am 25 years old. My family emigrated from South Africa many years ago and I have been a New Zealand citizen for several years. In 2016 I started my Concurrent Bachelor of Wine Science/Bachelor of Viticulture degree at EIT, where I am now in my third year. I can throw a cricket ball 100m.! |
| 2019 |  | Nealie Young I am 38 years old, and I am studying to be a Winemaker at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Napier, New Zealand. I live with my partner in Havelock North Village which is surrounded by orchards and vineyards, and part of the twin cities of Napier and Hastings. |
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