Jacobs wins new wine industry scholarship

Wine Tasmania has announced the inaugural winner of a new scholarship aimed at helping rising stars in the industry.

The Vaughn Dell Scholarship was launched with support from Sinapius Vineyard and his ex partner Linda Morice, and went to Georgie Jacobs, vineyard manager at Tolpuddle Vineyard in the Coal River Valley.

She will travel to the US, where she will investigate practical adoption of regenerative practices in vineyards.

Jacobs will focus on under vine management, cool-climate biological farming, increasing soil biology and fungal populations while addressing soil compaction and reducing reliance on herbicides.

Sinapius co-founder Dell died suddenly on May 19 2020 at just 39.

The former Aussie Rules player's "curiosity, positive attitude, determination and generosity were an inspiration for many, Wine Tasmania said.

Jacobs said: "I feel very humbled to receive the inaugural Vaughn Dell scholarship.

"It's an honour to be selected to represent our wine community and I'm grateful for the opportunity to travel and dive into a research topic I'm passionate about. I will travel to the USA and road trip along the West Coast to visit and meet producers who are innovating in regenerative viticulture.

"With cool-climate and low rainfall wine regions there are many parallels to our Tasmanian conditions, and I'm interested in how growers are adopting biological strategies.

“Growing wine in places of natural significance is a privilege and I believe it comes with a responsibility to be proactive in our farming decisions - I hope to discover new ways to practically and realistically make real change in our vineyards. 

"I'm very grateful to Linda Morice and the Dell family for this opportunity and hope that I can do justice to Vaughn's curiosity and love of travel and learning."

See winetasmania.com.au/vaughn-dell-scholarship