Congratulations to Mark Krstic, Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) on winning the ASVO Viticulturist of the Year award for 2020.
Mark has more than 23 years of experience in viticulture research, R&D leadership and executive management. He holds undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Agricultural Science from the University of Tasmania and an MBA from Mt Eliza/Queensland University. Mark commenced his career in viticulture R&D at CSIRO, Merbein, where he conducted research on grapevine physiology, crop development and yield estimation. Since that time he has worked in key viticulture roles at the Victorian Government’s Department of Primary Industries, the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (now Wine Australia) and the Australian Wine Research Institute, leading a range of R&D initiatives.
Peter Leske, Winemaker and Director at Revenir Winemaking in the Adelaide Hills, was named Winemaker of the Year. His efforts in 2020 have included assisting members of the Hills region with the making, sensory assessment and interpretation of smoke impact on hundreds of small-lot wines from affected vineyards.
Other Waite winners to feature on the podium were Dr Rob Walker (CSIRO) and Dr Marcos Bonada (PIRSA-SARDI), for Viticulture Paper of the Year and the Dr Peter May Award respectively.