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Recent Brock alumnus Robert Harold (OEVC \u201920), right, and Steven Trussler, Senior Lab Instructor for Brock\u2019s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, stand among the grape-growing vines that Hanck Vineyards will be donating to the University\u2019s Oenology and Viticulture program.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cI learned\u00a0that viticulture and winemaking\u00a0is\u00a0both an\u00a0art and a science\u00a0and\u00a0Brock taught me to look holistically from the vineyard to the final product\u00a0in the bottle,\u201d he says, \u201cThey also taught me\u00a0to be focused,\u00a0optimistic and\u00a0patient\u00a0from vintage to vintage.\u00a0I now\u00a0have a deeper\u00a0understanding\u00a0of the viticulture and winemaking continuum\u00a0\u2014 that\u2019s all thanks to the\u00a0world-class\u00a0faculty, staff and instructors\u00a0at Brock,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
All four partners have a passion for learning. In addition to their degrees from Brock, they all hold bachelor\u2019s\u00a0degrees from\u00a0the University of Guelph, and, in Robert\u2019s case,\u00a0a\u00a0Master of\u00a0Business\u00a0Administration\u00a0from Columbia University.<\/p>\n
As their way of giving back and supporting those who share their passion,\u00a0the team has\u00a0dedicated two rows of\u00a0their\u00a0Gew\u00fcrztraminer grapes\u00a0(some\u00a0of the vineyard\u2019s most \u201cphenomenal producers,\u201d)\u00a0to\u00a0be used by students in\u00a0Brock\u2019s\u00a0Oenology and Viticulture\u00a0program.<\/p>\n
Steven\u00a0Trussler, Senior Lab Instructor for\u00a0Brock\u2019s Cool\u00a0Climate\u00a0Oenology\u00a0and Viticulture\u00a0Institute (CCOVI) and one of Robert\u2019s former instructors,\u00a0says\u00a0an important mandate for the program and the research institute is to\u00a0strengthen industry connections through partnerships like this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always so happy to see our graduates succeed in their careers after leaving our programs,\u201d he says. \u201cNot only\u00a0are they\u00a0launching an amazing new venture,\u00a0but\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0also giving back to the next generation of grape growers and winemakers\u00a0and\u00a0continuing\u00a0to build a great network of Brock alumni within our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Harold\/Schenck\u00a0team\u00a0looks forward to also\u00a0providing experiential learning opportunities to Goodman School of Business students in the\u00a0Social Media and Search Engine Marketing course.<\/p>\n
David DiPietro, Senior Experiential Education Co-ordinator in Goodman,\u00a0says\u00a0they are\u00a0excited to get students involved in the project once the future winery opens.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of\u00a0the\u00a0goals\u00a0for\u00a0experiential learning is to engage\u00a0with\u00a0alumni, so when an opportunity\u00a0like this presents itself, it checks all of the boxes for what we are trying to do,\u201d\u00a0he says. \u201cThis partnership will be a win-win:\u00a0for the students to work with a recent grad and help to get their winery off the ground,\u00a0and for\u00a0the partners\u00a0to engage with our students and get some innovative ideas\u00a0to\u00a0help jump-start\u00a0their\u00a0venture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert and the\u00a0team\u00a0would also like to continue to partner with the\u00a0University and utilize the research and outreach programs offered by CCOVI to support their operations in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much expertise at Brock,\u201d\u00a0Robert says.<\/p>\n
For now, the\u00a0partners have their sights set on the future, with a hopeful opening date of\u00a0Summer 2021.<\/p>\n
Tracey,\u00a0who is also\u00a0Program Co-ordinator for Brock\u2019s\u00a0Masters in Applied\u00a0Gerontology,\u00a0is looking\u00a0forward to\u00a0the day\u00a0when they can\u00a0showcase\u00a0\u201cthis unique little place in\u00a0Vineland\u00a0\u2014\u00a0King + Victoria\u00a0\u2014\u00a0that\u00a0you should\u00a0visit\u00a0if you really love\u00a0Pinot\u00a0Noir\u00a0and Sauvignon Blanc.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have lots of\u00a0family and\u00a0friends who have been supportive and a part of this vision,\u201d she adds. \u201cWe look forward to building a bigger network and working with all of our partners \u2014 especially Brock \u2014 to spread the word.\u201d<\/p>\n