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Associate Professor Peter Dry has had an outstanding career in education, research and industry service. He is one of Australia’s most awarded, recognized and respected viticulturists. His research achievements have been recognized by prestigious awards and his voluntary service to the University of Adelaide, The Australian Wine Research Institute and the wine industry has been significant. Associate Professor Peter Dry has had an outstanding career in education, research and industry service. He is one of Australia’s most awarded, recognised and respected viticulture lecturer, researcher and consultant. He is a fellow of The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO). His teaching career spans 43 years, at Roseworthy Agricultural College and then The University of Adelaide. There are few viticulturists and winemakers in the Australian wine industry who have not been touched in some way by his work. His research achievements have been recognised by prestigious awards. His voluntary service to the educational and wine industry and the community has been significant. Peter’s knowledge and experience spans the whole spectrum of viticulture research and practice. He has an ability to link theory and practice and a strong focus on practical outcomes. Since 2003 he has supervised 30 Masters and PhD students. His contribution to teaching and research has been acknowledged with many awards. Most significantly he was awarded the prestigious McWilliam Wines Maurice O’Shea Award.
“…the highest honour the Australian wine industry (through McWilliam’s) can confer on one of its members,” leading wine critic, James Halliday
The Maurice O’Shea Award is presented to an individual, group, corporation or entity that has made a significant contribution to the Australian Wine Industry. His research, with Dr Brian Loveys from CSIRO, on ‘Partial rootzone drying (PRD) of grapevines’ was named as one of the 100 most important technological innovations of the 20th century in Australia by The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. His knowledge has been passed on through his co-authorship of texts on viticulture — several books becoming the recommended texts for viticulture in wine courses within Australia and around the world. Three books have won international awards. He has authored more than 270 publications including peer reviewed scientific papers to informative industry articles. His research and focus on practical outcomes is recognized around the world and he is frequently invited to speak at national and international conferences. He is regarded by his peers, nationally and internationally, and industry personnel as one of the world’s top viticulturists. He is frequently asked to present at international conferences. His international travels have opened up many opportunities for collaborative international activities for staff of the University of Adelaide and has helped to attract international students to the wine and viticulture courses of the University of Adelaide. More recently he has championed the introduction of new varieties into the Australian wine grape industry. He has authored the book “Alternative varieties: Emerging Options for a Changing Climate” and given many presentations that have encouraged growers to experiment with new varieties more suitable to the changing climate that Australian viticultural regions are now facing. Many of these presentations have been on a voluntary basis and in addition to his normal duties at The University of Adelaide and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). Since his retirement his dedication to the teaching and research programmes at The University of Adelaide continues through his voluntary contribution to lectures and practical classes in the viticulture subjects and through co-supervision and as an examiner of Honours, Masters and PhD students and theses. The time commitment over an 8 year period is significant. The University values his continuing contribution highly. He has been a mentor to new viticulture lecturers. Similarly, since his retirement from the AWRI in 2014 Peter has continued to voluntarily make a substantial contribution to the AWRI’s extension activities in viticulture as an Emeritus Fellow, delivering presentations, seminars and workshops to industry practitioners throughout Australia, while also continuing to play a mentoring role for that organisation’s viticulture staff. Peter has served on several wine industry bodies and has been a member of the Mitcham Rotary Club for several years. He is President elect. He volunteers at the Rotary Club’s Second Hand Book Shop every Thursday afternoon.
| Dr Peter Dry MC at 2015 Awards for Excellence |
| Dr Peter Dry MC at 2016 Awards for Excellence |
