The Australian viticulture expert Dr. Richard E. Smart (*1945) studied agricultural sciences at the University of Sydney. He gained further degrees at Macquarie University through studies on the influence of sunlight in vineyards, and on canopy management at Cornell University (New York State) under Dr Nelson Shaulis (1913-2000). In 1995, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by Stellenbosch University (South Africa) in recognition of his achievements in the study of foliage management in terms of its impact on yield and quality. Dr Smart has also been extensively active as a publicist. He is the author of the book "Sunlight in Wine", the author of many articles in professional journals, as well as the main contributor to the viticulture section of the "Oxford Companion to Wine" (edited by Jancis Robinson).
Richard Smart is considered the world's leading expert and global consultant on canopy management and viticulture methods in general. He is also known as the "flying vine doctor". Together with the Californian winery owner John Dyson, the Smart-Dyson training system was developed, which was subsequently used worldwide (see for example Marqués de Griñón). Two other education systems he developed are Ruakura Twin Two Tier and Te Kauwhata Two Tier. Dr Smart repeatedly warned about the negative effects of climate change on viticulture. Global warming is leading to an increase in pest populations such as the cicada species Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, the bacterial vector of Pierce Disease. In his opinion, many red wine varieties are endangered because they will lose their varietal typicity. He sees China as a winner of climate change and an emerging wine-growing nation.
