Georgie awarded Vaughn Dell Scholarship

Tolpuddle vineyard manager Georgie Jacobs has won the inaugural $10,000 Vaughn Dell Scholarship.

The Tasmanian wine community lost a much loved and respected friend when Vaughn suddenly passed away on 19 May 2020 at just 39 years of age.

Together with Linda Morice, Vaughn’s relentless desire to learn and excel is reflected in the meticulous Sinapius vineyard and wines.

Never one to do things the easy way or follow others, Vaughn’s curiosity, positive attitude, determination and generosity were an inspiration for many.

Supported by Linda Morice and the Dell family, this new scholarship was launched to build on Vaughn’s legacy and continue elevating the Tasmanian wine offering.

Applications were invited from Tasmanian wine professionals to undertake study-based travel in 2026/27 on topics of relevance and benefit for both the individual and the broader Tasmanian wine sector.

Georgie will travel to the USA, where she will investigate practical adoption of regenerative practices in vineyards.

She will focus on under vine management, cool climate biological farming, increasing soil biology and fungal populations while addressing soil compaction and reducing reliance on herbicides.

Linda Morice expressed her support for Georgie’s selection, saying, “Georgie’s project captures so much of what Vaughn believed in.

“He was endlessly curious and never content to accept conventional thinking if there was a better way. He believed the best ideas came from asking questions, learning from others, and then generously sharing that knowledge with the wider wine community.

“Georgie’s focus on exploring practical approaches to regenerative viticulture reflects that same spirit of innovation and continual learning. Just as importantly, Georgie has the ability to bring those learnings home and share them in a way that will inspire and benefit others across Tasmania’s wine community.

“That commitment to learning, collaboration and knowledge-sharing is exactly the kind of legacy we hoped the Vaughn Dell Scholarship would carry forward.”

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies welcomed the announcement of Georgie as the first recipient of this new annual scholarship.

“We were delighted to see the quality and number of applications for this new scholarship program, reflecting the enthusiasm of wine producers to keep learning, continuously improving, collaborating and sharing their knowledge for the benefit of all,” she said.

“There were many worthwhile applications, and it wasn’t an easy process for the selection panel. Georgie’s proposal is very practical and relevant, focused on achievable outcomes, and clearly outlines how these outcomes will be shared for the benefit of the Tassie wine sector more broadly. It also aligns with Vaughn’s focus on sustainability in viticulture.”

Georgie Jacobs said, “I feel very humbled to receive the inaugural Vaughn Dell scholarship. It’s an honour to be selected to represent our wine community and I’m grateful for the opportunity to travel and dive into a research topic I’m passionate about.

“I will travel to the USA and road trip along the West Coast to visit and meet producers who are innovating in regenerative viticulture. With cool-climate and low rainfall wine regions there are many parallels to our Tasmanian conditions, and I’m interested in how growers are adopting biological strategies.”

“Growing wine in places of natural significance is a privilege and I believe it comes with a responsibility to be proactive in our farming decisions – I hope to discover new ways to practically and realistically make real change in our vineyards. I’m very grateful to Linda Morice and the Dell family for this opportunity and hope that I can do justice to Vaughn’s curiosity and love of travel and learning. Many thanks also to Wine Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government, and the team at Tolpuddle Vineyard for their support.”

The 2026 Vaughn Dell Scholarship is supported by the Tasmanian Government.