Drinking wine has become a common cultural heritage enjoyed by many. Great bottles of wine are the result of concerted efforts of their makers whose skill is remarkably refined like the drink.

Respected as a major supplier in the global market, Australia is recognised for its high quality of wine. An expert in wine production, Australia is also specialised in wine education programs which attract a large number of students and researchers from around the world.

Visootha Lohitnavy (Nikki) is one of many who chose Australia as a destination for wine education. Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Oenology (Viticulture & Winemaking) and Second Class Honours in Viticulture from The University of Adelaide, South Australia. The first female winemaker of Thailand and one of the few winemakers in this country, Nikki is currently working as an Operation Director of her family’s GranMonte Estate, Thailand.

“I studied everything from taking soil samples, trimming grapevines, picking the grapes, following the wine process, taste-tasting and evaluating the quality of wines, and marketing them”, Nikki said of her ‘grape-to-glass’ education experience. “I learnt basic sciences such as Biology, Biochemistry, and Botany as a foundation before focusing more on the scientific and technological aspects of winemaking and viticulture including wine packaging and cellar management”, she said.

Nikki said her programs comprised lectures as well as practical work and experience in a wine science laboratory at the university’s vineyard and winery. She also received a scholarship to undertake a practical industry experience, a compulsory part of the program, at the famous Wolf Blass Winery in The Barossa Valley, South Australia, where she took the role of a 2008 vintage winemaker which required great responsibility. Now professionally working for her family’s wine business, Nikki’s aim is to promote Thai wine to the global market.

South Australia is known as one of the most famous wine regions in the world with its Mediterranean climate. The University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine is considered a leader in wine related research and education programs ranging from science to the business aspect. The world-class Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) is also situated in South Australia. Assistant Professor Dr Wanphen Jitjaroen, 2009 Endeavour Research Fellowship recipient from Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Lampang, is conducting postdoctoral research on molecular wine yeast strains at AWRI. Dr Wanphen said that her research outcome is expected to help control the aroma and flavour of wine which will benefit the Thai fermentation industry. Dr Wanphen added that “AWRI hosts many renowned scientists, thus, provides networking opportunities with the world’s leading research institutes”.

For the future of the wine industry in Thailand, Nikki said that “it is relatively new and growing. Personnel with wine making experience are hard to find. There is a workforce demand in the burgeoning Asian markets of China, India, and Japan which leads to exciting prospects for people with overseas experience in this field”. The synergies between the wine industry and related industries such as Food and Beverage Technology and Tourism and Hospitality provide ample opportunities for students to have a wide range of career options.