Dr Peter Dry has received Australia’s highest accolade in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours, named as Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to viticulture, particularly to winegrape research.

President of the Australian Society of Viticulture & Oenology (ASVO), Dr Tony Robinson, extended his congratulations to Dry, who was recgonised as a Fellow of the ASVO in 2012, saying, “Dr Dry’s outstanding career in education, research and service to industry has made him one of Australia’s most awarded and respected viticulturists.”

Dry received another of the wine industry’s highest honours, the McWilliams Wines Maurice O’Shea Award, in 2014.

Dry has more than 45 years of experience as a viticultural scientist and teacher. There are few viticulturists and winemakers in the Australian wine industry whose careers have not been touched in some way by his work. Dr Dry’s research achievements, especially his focus on practical outcomes, are recognised around the world. His frequent international invitations have opened many opportunities for collaborative international wine industry activities and helped to attract international students to the wine and viticulture courses at the University of Adelaide.

Dr Dry has extended his knowledge of viticulture through more than 300 scientific and technical publications including co-authorship of seven books. Several of these books have become the recommended texts for viticulture in wine courses within Australia and around the world, and three have received international awards. His service to the University of Adelaide, The Australian Wine Research Institute and the wine industry has been significant. Although now retired, he continues his research and other interests as both Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide and Emeritus Fellow at the Australian Wine Research Institute.

“The ASVO is very proud of the accomplishments of its members and Fellows and we congratulate Dr Peter Dry whose contributions and achievements have received due public recognition,” Dr Robinson said.