The ASVO came into being because an interested group of oenologists and viticulturists had a vision of creating a professional society to further technical research within the grape and wine industry. Without the drive and dedication of the early committee members, it is unlikely that the Society would have been borne. For over half of its life the ASVO was unstaffed, and administered solely by voluntary committee members, yet it managed to grow considerably. With the employment of a part time Administration Manager in 1996 the membership of the Society doubled over the course of a decade. Throughout these years dedicated committee members have worked to keep their members abreast of the latest wine and vine science.

2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the Society’s beginning. The Society’s first official meeting was in October 1980. Since then the ASVO has evolved in response to the industry’s growth through successive phases of industry restructuring. Throughout its 40-year history, the Society has kept industry members informed of new developments in practice, products and services, through a combination of seminars, major industry networking events, and the publication of newsletters and the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research. There have been many changes in the industry and within the Society itself over that period, with many people that have contributed to the Society’s daily operations and events.

View an interview with founding members Brian Croser AO and Dr Terry Lee OAM as they reflect on the early years of the Society.

Historical pictures

 

view