Chairman's Message

The First International Wine Conference of the New Millennium

On behalf of the Symposium Organising Committee, I invite you to join us for the 5^th International Symposium on Cool Climate Viticulture and Oenology in Melbourne, Australia, from 16 to 20 January 2000 - the first time this important international winegrape and wine industry gathering will be held in Australia.

The first Cool Climate Symposium was held in Eugene, Oregon in 1984. This ground breaking Symposium led the way for future Symposia held in Auckland, New Zealand in 1988, Mainz, Germany in 1992 and Rochester, New York, United States of America in 1996. The 5^th International Symposium follows on from the outstanding success of the previous four and will focus on specific problems and opportunities that pertain to premium quality grape growing and wine making.

The Melbourne Symposium is being jointly organised by the Victorian Wine Industry Association and the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology, with the assistance of the New Zealand Society for Viticulture and Oenology, and significant support from the Victorian State Government, through Business Victoria and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Symposium will hold its Plenary Sessions at the superb Melbourne Convention Centre, on the Yarra River's Southbank, and will conduct many Workshops in wine regions close to Melbourne. Victoria is Australia's major cool climate wine State, comprising more than 150 wineries within an hour's drive of the capital, in five premium cool climate wine growing regions - the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Sunbury, Macedon Ranges, and the Geelong/Bellarine Peninsula.

Of course, apart from a comprehensive, "State of the Art" technical program, we have developed some exciting social events. In all we are confident that all our delegates will enjoy a stimulating and challenging Symposium amidst a glorious Melbourne summer.

We look forward very much to greeting you in Melbourne in January 2000.

Stephen Shelmerdine
Chairman Organising Committee