California Ag Network

Tag: ASEV

  • ASEV Renames Extension Distinction Award to Honor Dr. Anita Oberholster

    The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) announces that the ASEV Extension Distinction Award has been officially renamed The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence in honor of Dr. Anita Oberholster, who passed away on January 11, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

    Dr. Oberholster was a globally respected professor of cooperative extension in enology at the University of California, Davis, whose work bridged rigorous science with practical solutions for the wine and grape industry. Throughout her 14-year career at UC Davis, she was known for her scientific excellence, her deep commitment to education and mentorship, and her ability to translate complex research into accessible tools that growers and winemakers could immediately apply.

    “Renaming this award in Anita’s honor reflects the immense contributions she made to extension work and the profound impact she had on our industry,” said James Osborne, Oregon State University professor and ASEV board president. “Her dedication to serving growers and winemakers, mentoring the next generation of wine and grape scientists, and translating research into practical solutions will continue to inspire extension professionals for generations to come.”

    A Legacy of Service and Scientific Impact

    Dr. Oberholster’s distinguished career advanced understanding in critical areas of wine science and viticulture. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on the California wine industry and beyond, including:

    • Pioneering work on smoke taint: Dr. Oberholster led a large group of researchers developing methods to assess and mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on grapes and wines. This work became essential during the devastating wildfire seasons of 2017, 2018 and 2020, when fires closed in on key California growing regions.
    • Applied research on grapevine diseases: As the lead investigator on a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant, she worked to understand the impact of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus, helping growers diagnose and respond to a disease with significant economic impact on the California industry.
    • Exceptional communicator and educator: Dr. Oberholster excelled at making complex science accessible, delivering education through on-site workshops, webinars, videos and one-on-one outreach with producers across California and around the world. Her warm personality and gift for communication made her a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor.
    • Service to the global wine community: Dr. Oberholster served multiple terms on the ASEV Board of Directors and was a regular presenter at major conferences, including the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. She was twice named by Wine Business Monthly as one of the Top 50 most influential people in the U.S. wine industry.

    In 2021, Dr. Oberholster was a recipient of the very award now renamed in her honor, the ASEV Extension Distinction Award, recognition of her outstanding extension contributions to viticulture and enology.

    “Anita was an ideal Cooperative Extension specialist,” said UC Davis Professor and former Chair of the Viticulture and Enology Department Dr. David Block. “She was so talented at explaining complex concepts in understandable and usable ways for stakeholders. Her personality put winemakers and vineyard managers at ease, drawing them into discussions that they might not have had with other academics.”

    A Legacy of Mentorship

    Perhaps Dr. Oberholster’s greatest passion was mentoring postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate interns, guiding and inspiring them to discover their love of science while embracing them in an exciting and caring environment. Those she mentored have become leaders themselves in industry and academia on at least four continents around the world.

    About The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence

    The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence will continue to recognize exceptional extension professionals in enology and viticulture whose outreach, education and application of research drive meaningful industry advancement. Recipients are honored for translating scientific knowledge into practical tools and for elevating the reach and relevance of extension programming.

    The award is presented annually in June at the ASEV National Conference and includes a plaque and monetary award. Recipients are expected to present on their extension programs at the conference.

    About ASEV

    Founded in 1950, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture is dedicated to advancing the interests of professionals in grape and wine research, production and education worldwide. ASEV fosters communication and collaboration among researchers, educators and industry practitioners.

  • Viticulture Leader Larry Bettiga to Receive ASEV’s Highest Honor

    Longtime viticulture advisor and researcher Larry Bettiga will deliver the prestigious ASEV Merit Award presentation at the 2025 American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s (ASEV) National Conference, taking place June 16-19 in Monterey, California.

    A pillar of California viticulture, Bettiga will be recognized with ASEV’s highest honor for his exceptional career advancing wine grape production through science-based research, grower education, and industry leadership. His presentation, “In the Question of Vine Development – Does Size Matter?,” is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, and will highlight the evolution of viticultural practices in coastal California and the pivotal role that applied research and cooperative extension have played in improving vineyard productivity and sustainability.

    Bettiga has served as a Viticulture Farm Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) for over 41 years, primarily based in Monterey County. In this role, he has conducted applied research and extension education programs that have benefited grape growers across Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. His work has focused on cultural practices, rootstock and clonal selection, canopy management and integrated pest management—all aimed at enhancing vine health and fruit quality.

    Before his appointment in Monterey, Bettiga spent six years conducting viticulture and pest management research in California’s Southern San Joaquin Valley, working with grapes, tree nuts and vineyards at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center and Tulare County UC Cooperative Extension.

    Over the course of his distinguished career, Bettiga has authored and co-authored more than 450 technical articles, newsletters, research reports and abstracts. He served as technical editor during the third revision of the influential book Grape Pest Management and is widely recognized for his leadership in translating research findings into practical solutions for vineyard managers.

    A member of ASEV since 1984, Bettiga has served on the Society’s Board of Directors—including as president from 1999 to 2000—and has presented numerous research and symposium sessions at ASEV National Conferences. He previously received the ASEV Extension Distinction Award in 2017, among many other honors including the University of California’s Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Teamwork (2006, 2016), the Western Extension Directors’ Association Award of Excellence (2008) and the International IPM Award of Recognition for his work on the European grapevine moth team (2018).

    The ASEV Merit Award recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced the science and practice of enology and viticulture. Bettiga’s presentation will offer a unique perspective shaped by four decades of dedicated service to California’s wine grape industry and his enduring commitment to grower education and sustainable farming.

    The ASEV National Conference is a platform to gather and discuss scientific and technological advances for the benefit and evolution of the grape and wine industries. It provides a stimulating and collegial atmosphere for industry, students, and academics to learn, engage, and network. To register for the conference, visit the online registration page  by June 10 and/or make hotel reservations by May 27 for cost savings.

    ASEV is an international community of wine and grape professionals that promotes industry vitality through the exchange of information and support of research and education. ASEV hosts the National Conference in June and co-hosts the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in January. ASEV publishes the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV) and awards scholarships to students pursuing a degree in enology, viticulture, or in a curriculum emphasizing a science basic to the wine and grape industry.

  • ASEV Selects 2022 Best Enology and Viticulture Papers

    The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) has selected the 2022 Best Paper Award winners, who will present their papers during the 2022 ASEV National Conference in San Diego, June 20-22. Both papers are highlighted on asev.org and are available free of charge.

    The 2022 Best Viticulture Paper is “Field Performance of Winegrape Rootstocks and Fumigation during Establishment of a Chardonnay Vineyard in Washington” by Katherine E. East* of USDA-ARS, Washington; Inga A. Zasada of USDA-ARS, Oregon; Julie Tarara of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington; and Michelle M. Moyer* of Washington State University, Prosser. The authors concluded that incorporating plant-parasitic nematode management as part of the process of vineyard replanting and fumigation is not an effective long-term strategy for suppressing Meloidogyne hapla.

    For the 2022 Best Enology Paper, ASEV selected “Whole Cluster and Dried Stem Additions’ Effects on Chemical and Sensory Properties of Pinot noir Wines over Two Vintages,” by L. Federico Casassa*, Niclas P. Dermutz, Paul F.W. Mawdsley, Margaret Thompson, and Jean C. Dodson Peterson of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Aníbal A. Catania of Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina; Thomas S. Collins and P. Layton Ashmore of Washington State University, Tri-Cities; Fintan du Fresne of Chamisal Vineyards and Winery in California; and Gregory Gasic, consultant from Oregon. The authors conducted this experiment at industrial scale to provide winemakers with a practical baseline for comparison when implementing whole cluster and stem additions to Pinot noir wines. The study took place during both relatively cool (2016) and warm (2017) growing seasons in California’s Central Coast, which allowed characterization of potential effects of vintage in the practice of whole cluster addition.

    Each year, the ASEV Best Paper Awards Committee evaluates all manuscripts published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV) during the previous year and selects one paper in viticulture and one in enology that reflect outstanding research and a substantial contribution to the field. Committee members are required to read and score each paper and the ASEV Board of Directors make the final decision. The 2022 Best Paper Award Committee includes Michelle Moyer (Chair) of Washington State University, Prosser; Torey Arvik (Co-Chair, Viticulture) of Sonomaceuticals/Whole Vine Products, California; Jeff Baccus of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, California; Mark Hoffmann of North Carolina State University, Raleigh; Molly Kelly of The Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Anji Perry of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, California; Joe Shirley of Trinchero Family Estates, California; Qun (Kristy) Sun of California State University, Fresno; Elizabeth Tomasino of Oregon State University, Corvallis; and Yun Zhang of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington.

    *Corresponding Author

  • Wine Industry Reflects on Emerging Issues, Trends, and Recent Fires Shaping Future, at Unified Symposium

    Sacramento, Calif., (January 29, 2018) – Every facet of the wine industry, from research and science to trends and markets, was examined, discussed and debated at the 24th Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (Unified), which wrapped up here today. The largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the Unified drew thousands of industry professionals from all over the world eager to hear about the impact of recent fires, trends, technology, research and issues shaping their business decisions.

    Presented by two nonprofit organizations, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), the Unified’s prestige highlights the wine industry’s critical need for information, discussion and connections.

    “This was an extraordinarily successful show for our attendees. The Unified offers growers, winery professionals and suppliers the best opportunity to understand and learn how to take advantage of shifting consumer preferences, advances in technology and new businesses trends. If you want to understand what’s happening in the industry and how to stay competitive, the Unified is the place to be,” said John Aguirre, CAWG president.

    Put on by the industry for the industry, the three-day show draws on some of the most respected industry experts. The three-days of symposiums included 23 presentations and panel discussions organized by a diverse panel of volunteers who recruited more than 90 experts to speak on topics ranging from wildfires and wine to vineyard mechanization. Complementing those talks was a two-day 170,000 square foot trade show that housed nearly 700 exhibitors.

    “While we bill ourselves as a wine show for the Americas, we draw an audience of nearly 14,000 from all over the globe, including exhibitors from nearly 30 countries, with a diversity of languages animating the trade show floor,” says ASEV Executive Director Dan Howard. “You can feel the collective energy on the exhibit floor and registration halls where wine industry professionals greet each other, discuss the latest news and share strategies for staying abreast of changing markets, technologies and regulations.”

    In 2019, the Unified will return to the Sacramento Convention Center from January 29-31. Immediately following the 2019 show, the Sacramento Convention Center will undergo a large-scale renovation necessitating a move in 2020. From February 4-6, Sacramento’s Cal Expo will serve as the temporary host site in 2020, where organizers say the ample space, parking and facilities offer an ideal alternative site.

    “Cal Expo as a premier agricultural showcase is excited to host the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in 2020,” says Rick Pickering, CEO and General Manager of Cal Expo and State Fair.  “We look forward to working with Unified to make the transition extremely smooth and the 2020 show a huge success.”

    The organizers of the Unified share that optimism.  “We are confident that, while the 2020 show will have a slightly different feel, the quality of exhibits, presentations and networking opportunities will again deliver an invaluable service to all of our guests and the industry,” says Howard. “We’re excited to see the newly renovated center and plan to return to the Sacramento Convention Center in 2021.”

    For more information, visit the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium website at www.unifiedsymposium.org.

  • Winemaker Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery to Keynote at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

    SACRAMENTO, CA, November 20, 2017 – Third generation winegrower and artisan winemaker Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery will deliver the keynote luncheon speech on opening day of the 2018 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Tuesday, January 23, in Sacramento at the Sheraton Grand.
    “As a member of one of America’s historic winemaking families, Gina embodies a sense of tradition, family legacy, craft and business acumen that transcends generations and inspires future growth amongst colleagues,” says John Aguirre, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), a co-organizer of the event along with the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV).
    Gina Gallo oversees the Gallo Signature Series and Ernest & Julio Gallo Estate wines. In her role, she is intimately engaged with the Gallo family’s premier estate vineyards in Napa, Sonoma and Monterey counties. As the Senior Director of Winemaking, she views winemaking as both a creative expression of the land and as a demonstration of the unique qualities of a specific vintage. Her values stem from her family’s entrepreneurial history, using her experience and creative vision to craft luxury wines from her favorite blocks from the family’s estate vineyards.
    Gallo was a 2016 inductee to the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. Fortune magazine named her one of the “Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink,” and she was named #17 on Decanter magazine’s “Power List” of the most important men and women in wine. She is a board member of the American Farmland Trust, which works to preserve agricultural land, and Taste of the NFL, which raises funds and awareness for food banks and anti-hunger initiatives.
    Unified’s Tuesday keynote luncheon was first introduced in 2014 and has since become a feature of the Unified Symposium. Tuesday also includes a welcome reception in the late afternoon — an added benefit with every general registration. 
    The 2018 Unified Symposium will again take place at the Sacramento Convention Center, located in downtown Sacramento, January 23-25.
    Built with the joint input of growers, vintners and allied industry members, the Unified Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information important to wine and grape industry professionals. The Unified Symposium also hosts the industry’s largest trade show of its kind, with over 650 vendors displaying their products and services. For additional information, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.