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Doug Wisor, a brilliant young American born winemaker at Craggy Range, passed away
in New Zealand following a freak and tragic kite surfing accident.
Doug started with Craggy Range in the middle of 2000, fresh from a vintage at Dry River
and a startling career as a young man in California alongside Ted Lemon, his great mentor.
He came to Craggy to make great Pinot Noir, and he was the perfect winemaking partner.
Not only did he bring a love of Pinot Noir to Craggy, he bought an in depth knowledge of
oenology and practical winemaking skills. Doug the oenologist, winery guy who loved Pinot
Noir and Syrah, Steve Smith, Managing Director, Craggy Range Vineyards with a dangerous
knowledge of winemaking and a great love of all Bordeaux varieties. Both shared a great
love of the wines of France, single vineyard expression in wine, natural where possible and
wine where texture is the most important element. Doug was also a great young man, personable
and caring about his colleagues, staff and friends. He had a great spark.
During his time with Craggy Range, Doug made some of the greatest wines New Zealand has seen.
He single-handedly created a Syrah style that has made the world notice something spectacular
happening in the vineyards of New Zealand that no one had ever considered. He was due to go to
the international stage with the first of his fine Pinot Noir wines, the wine he loved and had
come to Craggy to make. He was excited. He had decided to make his life with Craggy in Hawke's
Bay, he was about to buy some land for his own special vineyard and his home. He had also just
returned from Bordeaux, he came back realizing that there is great red wine outside Pinot Noir.
Doug was a most incredible young man and it is a tragic loss to the world of wine that this young
man was only with Craggy Range for a very short time. He was destined for greatness. His wines
and his legacy will live on however, and possibly his greatest achievement to date, a small batch,
special Pinot Noir selection from 2003, will now be named as a tribute to him.
Doug has left a huge hole personally and professionally. His professional legacy will live on in
the people he has trained and hired as he shared his vision, skill and philosophy. His personal
contribution to the many people he touched, will never be replaced or forgotten.
We have created the Douglas Wisor Memorial Scholarship in Doug's memory to bring a young American
winemaker to New Zealand annually to intern for a vintage. The first fundraising event for the
Scholarship will be the tasting of Doug's Craggy Range wines at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma on
February 16th. It is a small tribute to a man who touched so many lives and we hope you will
join us in honoring him.
The scholarship will be awarded annually and will enable suitably qualified American
winemakers to travel to New Zealand for an internship with a sponsoring New Zealand vineyard.
The intention is to create the best match between the intern and the sponsoring vineyard.
Airfares to and from New Zealand will be paid from the Douglas Wisor Memorial Fund - created
under the auspices of the New Zealand Educational Exchange Program. The sponsor vineyard
will provide accommodation and salary where appropriate.
The wine harvest in New Zealand is March/April each year. The candidate will be chosen by the judging committee by the end of October.
American winemakers with an interest in working a vintage in New Zealand.
Mr. Steve Smith, Managing Director, Craggy Range Wineries, New Zealand
Mr. David Strada, New Zealand Winegrower's Association, California
Mr. Malcolm Binks, Chairman, American Australian Association
- Quality of proposed internship and or reasons for participating. Applicants should
demonstrate intellect, vision, innovation and practical experience in winemaking.
- Reasons why an overseas internship would be important in career development. Applicants
should indicate the preferred New Zealand vineyard for the internship together with reasons
for their choice.
- Explanation of mutual benefits likely to both the applicant and vineyard.
- Applications must be clear, concise and easily understandable as some judges may have
limited technical knowledge in wine making.
- Please include contact details for at least one recent wine industry referee.
A detailed resume together with an essay outlining the reasons why the applicant
wants to work a vintage in New Zealand and having regard to the criteria for selection
listed above should be submitted before October 19, 2007.
Applications should be forwarded by email only to diane.sinclair@aaanyc.org, for questions please contact the Association’s Vice President of Education, Diane Sinclair.
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