Roz Walker went from clinical psychology to winemaking

When Roz Walker decided to study for her Certificate in Winemaking, it wasn’t as if she didn’t already have her hands full.

Roz decided to study winemaking so she would have a full understanding of the process

Roz was working as a clinical psychologist, looking after a family, and was heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of a vineyard. However, after taking on responsibility for the winemaking, she decided she would benefit from a more formal education in the winemaking process.

“I like to know why things happen. I didn’t want to just be repeating a recipe without knowing what I was doing.”

So Roz signed up for a correspondence winemaking course offered by EIT Hawke’s Bay. “It taught me more of the background science – all aspects from choosing the grapes to bottling.”

Roz fitted study in around vineyard work 

“Study was definitely an extra thing to fit into the overall picture. I remember there was so much need for hands in the vineyard, that if I was at home during the day, the priority would be bud rubbing, pruning or leaf plucking.” So the study happened, Roz says, in the evenings or at weekends.

When the time came to do block courses at EIT, Roz took annual leave, and her husband looked after the children. Roz acknowledges that taking on extra activities like study requires a very supportive partner. “If you had a husband who didn’t think he should have to cook, or take the kids to soccer or ballet practice, it would be impossible. He had to do everything.”

Studying was challenging, but worth it

While studying was difficult, Roz doesn’t regret it for a moment. “There were a lot of demands, which meant less time for family. The hospital work would never fit in the hospital hours. I always had reports to write, which I often did on the train on the way home to Martinborough.” But Roz undoubtedly learned how to manage her time – and the winemaking process – well. 

“Once you’ve followed the process a few times you then have the experience and confidence to branch out a bit. We did let a couple of the ferments ‘go wild’ – you don’t have any control – but it produces a much more ‘complex’ wine!”

Read about how Roz balances family, clinical psychology and vineyard work