The American Vineyard Foundation Launches the Justin Meyer Graduate Student Fellowship Supporting Viticulture and Enology Research 

Napa, CA. July 6,2022 – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce the establishment of a fellowship to support viticulture and enology graduate student research in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis.  TheJustin Meyer Graduate Student Research Fellowship honors the late, legendary winemaker Justin Meyer, AVF founder and long-time president.  Meyer was also a graduate of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis.

Meyer’s vision for a partnership between the wine industry and academia led to the creation of AVF and the advancement of funding for grape and wine research.  Since 1979, Meyer and his fellow vintners and grape growers worked tirelessly to raise over $35 million dollars in research funding to solve the wine industry’s most critical challenges.

“My dad was an amazing man, and my family and I are deeply honored that the AVF has chosen to award this Fellowship in his memory.  He treasured the fact that AVF fostered collaboration from the largest wineries to the smallest growers to tackle industry challenges.  More importantly, he often reflected that because he came from humble beginnings, earning a college scholarship was the boost he needed to prepare him for life and his career success.   He was always looking for ways to help others like him to achieve their goals” said Matthew Meyer, AVF board member and son of Justin Meyer.

The graduate student fellowship is a natural extension of AVF’s core mission of research support for the grape and wine industries.  The fellowship will provide $50,000 annually for three years to fund a PhD candidate at UC Davis.  

The goal of the fellowship is to attract qualified graduate students to grape and wine research while encouraging diversity in the wine industry.  “We are proud to be able to leverage our endowment fund to support deserving graduate researchers as they begin their careers in our rewarding industry,” said Tony Stephen, AVF Chairman.  “The AVF is committed to the continued support and advancement of grape and wine research.”

Another goal is to commit funding for graduate student research over multiple years rather than on a year-to-year basis.  By doing so, the AVF wishes to enhance research continuity and meaningful deliverables to the industry.   The AVF plans to rotate the award every three years to a new student and research objective.  

“The AVF endowment empowers us to help fund critical research and scholarships for those graduate students who endeavor to contribute their talents to enology and viticulture research,” said Jerry Lohr, AVF board member. “We’re looking for more individuals to play a part in the future of the organization. Giving to the endowment supports our ongoing mission of advancing grape and wine research.”

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) was founded in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to advance the wine industry through research efforts to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org 

Your contributions have funded over $35 million dollars in critical research for our industry since the American Vineyard Foundation was established in 1979.

The American Vineyard Foundation Provides over $1Million Annual Funding for Wine and Grape Research in 2022

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) has announced its 2022/2023 funding allocations for sixteen projects addressing critical viticulture and enology research needs.  The AVF relies on voluntary industry contributions to support both ongoing research and new high priority projects.

Fifty-four proposals were submitted by researchers from around the country for projects covering breeding and germplasm, cultural practices, pest and disease, enology and education and outreach.  Each was evaluated by one of five AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and for delivering value to the industry.

This year’s funding focuses on several top industry concerns expressed in last year’s industry research priority survey.  These range from increasing concerns over smoke taint and strategies for drought tolerance to modern methods to combat longtime challenges such as nematodes and powdery mildew. “The need for wine industry research is constant and ever evolving, remarked AVF Chairman Tony Stephen, and we’re sincerely grateful for the support of our grower and vintner community to maintain healthy research activity.”  “We’d also like to thank everyone who participated in last summer’s survey; your input has helped guide AVF funding toward the top industry research needs for over forty years.”

To view the full list of 2022 funded projects, browse prior research summaries and see the latest survey results, please visit www.avf.org

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) was founded in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to advance the wine industry through industry-wide research efforts to maintain this progress. For more information on the American Vineyard Foundation visit www.avf.org

The American Vineyard Foundation Provides $1.2 Million Annual Funding for Wine and Grape Industry Research in 2021

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce new funding for eighteen projects addressing critical viticulture and enology research needs.   The AVF relies on voluntary industry contributions to support ongoing research and to provide funding for new high priority projects.  “Considering the challenges our industry faced over the past year, we are impressed with our level of research funding and are proud that our members maintained such generous support through difficult times,” AVF Chairman Tony Stephen sincerely acknowledged.

The AVF received 72 proposals for grant consideration covering diverse topics from “Sudden Vine Collapse” and “Evaluating Candidate Traits for Drought Tolerance” to “Baseline Smoke-Taint Volatiles & Glycosides.” Each proposal was evaluated by one of five AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and delivering value to the industry.

AVF members are surveyed on a periodic basis to determine which issues are in most need of research.  “We encourage broad participation when we conduct our 2021 Industry Research Priority Survey later this year,” AVF Manager Scott Deitrick emphasized.  “This is your opportunity to identify and rank your top research priorities to help guide AVF project funding going forward.”

To view the full list of 2021 funded projects, browse prior research summaries and see the latest survey results, please visit www.avf.org

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) was founded in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to advance the wine industry through industry-wide research efforts to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

The American Vineyard Foundation Honors Mr. Fred T. Franzia for his Significant Contributions to Grape and Wine Research

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) honors Mr. Fred T. Franzia, CEO of the Bronco Wine Company and a founding member of the AVF in 1979.  Fred has served continuously on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the organization since its establishment, and was a major force shaping its success.  Fred and other influential industry leaders joined together to form the AVF with the vision of creating an innovative, collaborative funding model for the wine industry in support of viticulture and enology research.  Since its founding, the AVF has raised and contributed over $33,000,000 to grape and wine research in the US.

“It has been a privilege to serve over many years with a strictly volunteer group of independent growers and winery members to voluntarily raise money (without government intervention) to fund both viticulture and enology research projects.  There have been many great board members over the years, such as Justin Meyer, Robert Gallo and Jerry Lohr, among others, that have been great contributors to building the American Vineyard Foundation to what we are today.  It is time for the next generation of leaders to continue the legacy.” – Fred T. Franzia

Fred was instrumental in the early development of the AVF, dedicating a generous amount of time, energy and financial resources, while shaping its initial framework.  He has remained deeply involved in the evolution and direction of the organization, including the development of fund-raising strategies and regularly hosting AVF Board meetings at his facilities.

“Fred’s advocacy for the wine industry and generous support for Ag research and education have had an enormous impact on the growth, direction and success of the AVF,” Chairman Tony Stephen enthusiastically stated. “We will truly miss his charismatic presence and sense of humor at our AVF meetings.”

The Board would also like to recognize Fred for his ongoing efforts to promote the AVF at industry events and to engage new member support.  His encouragement brought some of the organization’s top contributors and distinguished Board members into the mix.

We wish Fred, his family and the Bronco Wine Company staff all the best going forward and welcome John Allbaugh, Bronco’s Director of Winemaking and Wine Production Operations, to succeed him on the Board.

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1979 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

The American Vineyard Foundation Provides $1.2 Million Annual Funding for Wine and Grape Research in 2020

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce new funding for nineteen projects addressing critical viticulture and enology research needs.   The AVF relies on voluntary industry contributions to support ongoing research and to provide funding for new high priority projects.  “We’ve proudly maintained a significant level of research funding thanks to the ongoing generosity from our community of supporters,” AVF Chairman Tony Stephen was grateful to report.

The AVF received 85 proposals for grant consideration covering diverse topics from “Soil Health in Vineyards” and “Controlling Grapevine Trunk Diseases in California” to “Smoke Assessment in Grapes and Wine.” Each proposal was evaluated by one of the five AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and to deliver value to the industry.

AVF review panel members gather annually to determine final funding recommendations after in-depth discussion and examination of proposals.  This year our panels had to shift last minute to remote sessions.  Considering the size of our review teams and increased proposal counts, we’d like to commend everyone for their inspiring participation, flexibility and thoughtful contributions to accomplish this involved process online.  We’d also like to recognize Kris Lowe, who has managed the AVF proposal review process for seven years, for her exceptional job conducting the meetings under this new and unforeseen format.

To view the full list of 2020 funded projects, browse prior research summaries and see the latest survey results, please visit www.avf.org

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

The American Vineyard Foundation Provides Record $1.5 Million Annual Funding for Wine and Grape Industry Research in 2019

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce new funding for twenty-six projects addressing critical viticulture and enology research needs.   The AVF relies on voluntary contributions to support ongoing research and to provide funding for new high priority projects.  “We are grateful for the very generous contributions of our growers and vintners that have enabled us to achieve our highest level of annual funding yet and we are proud to see the wide scope of research underway,” emphasized Chairman Tony Stephen.

The AVF received 67 proposals for grant consideration covering topics diverse as “Grape Smoke Exposure Effects” and “Evaluating Candidate Traits for Drought Tolerance” to “Red Blotch Disease & Deficit Irrigation.” Each proposal was evaluated by one of the five AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and to deliver value to the industry.

We’d also like to thank everyone who participated in our industry research survey last summer. Your input prioritizes the needs of the industry,  providing insight and direction to the research community who design and conduct projects to address these needs.

To view the full list of 2019 funded projects, browse prior research summaries and see the latest survey results, please visit www.avf.org

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

The American Vineyard Foundation Funds $1.4 MM for Wine and Grape Industry Research in 2018

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce new funding for twenty-four projects addressing critical viticulture and enology research needs.   The AVF relies on voluntary contributions to support ongoing projects and to provide funding for new high priority projects.  “Thanks to the generosity of nearly one-thousand grower and vintner members, the AVF continues to drive research solutions for the challenges we face in our vineyards and wineries,” remarked AVF Chairman Tony Stephen.

The AVF received 68 proposals for grant consideration covering topics diverse as “Exploring Wine Protocols to Mitigate Smoke Taint” and “Evaluating Fine Root Response to Drought” to “Next Generation Trunk Disease Diagnostics.” Each proposal was evaluated by one of the six AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and to deliver value to the industry.

AVF members are surveyed on a periodic basis to determine which issues are in most need of research.  “We encourage broad participation when we conduct our 2018 Industry Research Priority Survey later this year,” AVF Manager Scott Deitrick emphasized.  “This is your opportunity to identify and rank your top research priorities to help guide AVF project funding going forward.”

To view the full list of 2018 funded projects and browse prior research summaries, please visit www.avf.org

About the American Vineyard Foundation – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

 

Hal Huffsmith Honored for Longtime Service with the American Vineyard Foundation

The Board of Directors of the American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) proudly extends our deepest gratitude to industry veteran Hal Huffsmith whose commitment, dedication and enormous contributions to the organization have been paramount to its success.  During Hal’s twenty six years of service, he has served on the Board, been a member of the Executive Committee and acted as Chairman from 2006 through 2010.  Hal also actively serves as a technical reviewer on an AVF research review committee.

As Chairman, Hal was integral in the development and refinement of key AVF programs.  Scott Deitrick, AVF Manager of Administration, who has worked closely with Hal since joining the organization in 2006, sincerely praises his character, dedication and accomplishments.  “My admiration for Hal goes far beyond words, but I’ll start by saying that it’s been a true inspiration and great privilege working together with such a gifted leader and genuine team player.  Hal’s objective nature and friendly, positive approach to conducting business and achieving goals are truly motivating and will have a lasting impact on me, the organization and the industry.”

Hal was selected for this honor for many accomplishments and attributes.  His willingness to accept any challenge and his ability to bring people together in the spirit of collaboration have greatly helped connect the dots within the research community and industry, leading to considerable advancement.

The extent of Hal’s industry-wide experience and service is truly remarkable and reaches far beyond his contributions to the AVF.  A California native, Hal received a BS in Enology from Fresno State and MS in Ag Economics from Cornell. After a harvest as a chemist at Sierra Wine Corporation, Hal went on to start a storied career in wine at John Harvey and Sons in Spain and Portugal; Ch. Barbie and Ch. LaCarelle in Bordeaux; and Buena Vista and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. In 1976 Hal jointed Trinchero Family Estates where he has spent over 40 years helping build the company into what it is today. Other wine industry volunteer service includes participation on the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, member of The Viticulture and Enology Industry Advisory Board at CSUF; and numerous other industry related screening, steering and advisory committees.

Hal’s contributions leave a profound imprint on an industry forever that will begrateful for his help.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

Breeding Rootstocks Resistant to Aggressive Root-Knot Nematodes

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) grape rootstock improvement program in Geneva, NY, has undergone significant changes in the past several years as a result of the resignation of Peter Cousins from his ARS rootstock breeder position and the abolishment of the vacated rootstock breeder position by ARS due to the federal budget cuts. However, a continued effort has been made to ensure that promising rootstock selections from previous years of breeding effort are maintained and carried through the evaluation process. To meet this challenge, a multi-discipline and –institution cooperative research team has been formed under encouragement and endorsement of the California grape industry. Matthew Fidelibus of University of California-Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (UC-KARE) now leads the effort for evaluation of horticultural characteristics and graft performance of the rootstock selections generated from the Geneva rootstock breeding program. Gan-Yuan Zhong of the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit (GGRU) in Geneva, NY, on the other hand, leads the effort for maintaining rootstock breeding populations and evaluating these populations and selections for root-knot nematode (RKN) resistance and propagation ability. The new team has been in operation since 2013 and demonstrated its success in evaluating more than 600 rootstock selections and identifying 5 leading rootstock selections for further grafting evaluation. During 2016-2017, the Geneva Team received $15,000 grant support for this project, which was only about 20%of what was requested. The team maintained about 150 rootstock mothervines in Geneva, evaluated 22 for RKN resistance and propagation ability, and transferred 27 to Matthew Fidelibus to grow at the UC KARE in Parlier, CA.

American Vineyard Foundation Provides 1.3 Million Dollars in 2016 Research Funding to the Wine and Grape Industry

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved funding for 23 projects that cover a wide scope of viticulture and enology research needs.

The AVF received 63 proposals for grant consideration covering topics as diverse as “Genetic Resistance to Powdery Mildew” and “Tannin Polysaccharide Interaction” to “Technology to Optimize Irrigation.” Each proposal was carefully evaluated by 1 of 6 AVF review committees for scientific merit, the ability to accomplish stated objectives and to deliver value to the industry.

“We’d like to recognize our highly qualified team of industry reviewers who volunteer considerable time and effort to review proposals,” remarked AVF Chairman Tony Stephen.  “Their technical expertise provides the AVF Board valuable guidance and direction towards the research critical for moving the industry ahead and we are grateful for their dedicated service.”

We’d also like to thank everyone who participated in our industry research survey last fall.  Your input prioritizes the needs of the industry and provides insight and direction to the research community who design and conduct projects to address these needs.

Please visit www.avf.org to view a list of 2016 funded projects and the results from last year’s industry research priority survey.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org