Richard Smart (born 6 March 1945 in Windsor, New South Wales) is an Australian viticulturalist and leading global consultant on viticulture methods,[1] who is often referred to as "the flying vine-doctor". He is considered responsible for revolutionising grape growing due to his work on canopy management techniques.[2]
Smart is a graduate from Sydney University with honours in agricultural science in 1966. Additionally he holds the degrees MSc (Hons) from Macquarie University following a study of sunlight use by vineyards, a PhD from Cornell University in New York State studying under the Professor Nelson Shaulis, and in 1995 awarded a D.Sc. in agriculture by the Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in recognition of research into canopy management effects on vineyard yield and quality.
Smart is the developer of the Smart-Dyson Trellis, a modification of the Scott Henry trellis, with curtains trained up and down from the one cordon, along with John Dyson of California.[3]
Smart is the author of the book Sunlight into Wine as well as a contributor to several trade publications, and the viticulture editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine.[4]
Smart has warned that as a consequence of the ongoing ramifications of global warming, there will be a variety of effects on viticulture, among which that some red grape varieties may lose colour, some wines will lose varietal flavor, some white varieties may disappear.[5] He has also warned of the consequent dangers of vine infestation as temperatures rise, particularly in the case of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, vector of Pierce's Disease, and the aphid Hyalestes obsoletus, which spreads a phytoplasma disease Bois Noir. Higher temperatures mean both insects will be able to survive winters and move further. Hyalestes obsoletus has recently been found in German vines.[5]
Furthermore, he has stated that following the Earth's changes, China is set to come to prominence as a wine-producing region.[6]