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Richard Smart (viticulturalist)

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Richard Smart
Born
Richard Ernest Smart

(1945-03-06)6 March 1945
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
Died2 July 2025(2025-07-02) (aged 80)
Victoria, Australia
Alma materCornell University
OccupationViticulturist
Scientific career
ThesisImplications of the radiation microclimate for productivity of vineyards (1976)
Doctoral advisorNelson Shaulis

Richard Ernest Smart (6 March 1945 – 2 July 2025) was an Australian viticulturalist and leading global consultant on viticulture methods,[1] who was often referred to as "the flying vine-doctor". He is considered responsible for revolutionising grape growing due to his work on canopy management techniques.[2]

Life and career

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Born at Windsor, New South Wales, on 6 March 1945, Smart graduated from the University of Sydney with an honours degree in agricultural science in 1966. He went on to earn a MSc (Hons) degree from Macquarie University following a study of sunlight use by vineyards, and a PhD from Cornell University in New York state studying under Nelson Shaulis. In 1995, he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree in agriculture by Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in recognition of research into canopy management effects on vineyard yield and quality.

Smart developed the Smart-Dyson Trellis, a modification of the Scott Henry trellis, with curtains trained up and down from the one cordon, along with John Dyson of California.[3]

Smart wrote the book Sunlight into Wine, contributed to several trade publications, and was the viticulture editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine.[4]

Smart died from cancer in Victoria, on 2 July 2025, at the age of 80.[5]

Global warming changes

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Smart warned that as a consequence of the ongoing ramifications of global warming, there will be a variety of effects on viticulture, among which that some red grape varieties may lose colour, some wines will lose varietal flavour, and some white varieties may disappear.[6] He also warned of the consequent dangers of vine infestation as temperatures rise, particularly in the case of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, vector of Pierce's Disease, and the aphid Hyalestes obsoletus, which spreads a phytoplasma disease Bois Noir. Higher temperatures mean both insects will be able to survive winters and move further. Hyalestes obsoletus has recently been found in German vines.[6] He also stated that China is set to come to prominence as a wine-producing region as a result of climate change.[7]

See also

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References

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Footnotes
  1. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (16 August 2007). "Tasmania - trouble about t'mill".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (21 April 2003). "Dr Sherlock Smart unravels a grape mystery".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. "training systems".
  4. ^ winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. "New Zealand". Archived from the original on 15 February 2015.
  5. ^ Madigan, Anthony (4 July 2025). "Wine industry mourns icon Dr Richard Smart". WBM. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b Buckley, Karen & Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (27 March 2006). "Pinot impossible in Burgundy over next 50 years".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Coggans, Jamie, Harpers (15 February 2008). "Global warming will see China develop as wine region".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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