Extension and Outreach through UC Davis Viticulture and Enology On-the-road events

AVF Proj. ID: 1685 / /Cat.:
Primary Investigator(s): Karen Block, Anita Oberholsterby

At the end of the 2015-2016 funding cycle, we will have produced the four On-the-road educational events proposed in the AVF Extension and Outreach grant. In addition, we completed all proposed events for the 2014-2015 funding cycle, before the end of the grant period (as proposed), described in last year’s annual report.

The first On-the-road event in the current (2015-2016) grant cycle took place in Santa Maria at the Presquile Winery. Karen Block worked with Mark Battany, Farm Advisor for both Santa Barbara and SLO counties, to determine topics of regional interest and invited individuals working in those areas to speak at this educational event. In addition, we offered continuing education credits from both the Department of Pest Regulation and Certified Crop Advisors. Turnout was better than expected, with 80 people in attendance. Rhonda Smith spoke about Red Blotch and Pinot Leaf Curl, Kent Daane gave an update on research on vine mealybugs, Ron Runnebaum gave a summary of his background and the types of research he will pursue and he spoke about his Pinot noir project, and Andy Walker spoke about his PD-resistant grapevines.

We are planning to complete three more On-the-road events before the end of the current funding cycle. One event is scheduled to take place in Sonoma County, at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, on March 29, 2016, another is scheduled for April 5, 2016, at the Hopland Research and Extension Center, in Mendocino County, and the last is scheduled for April 11, 13, or 14 in Modesto at the Stanislaus County Ag Center Harvest Hall. Karen Block has been working with Rhonda Smith for the Sonoma event, Glenn McGourty for the event in Mendocino County, and Roger Duncan and local industry professionals for the Modesto event. For the events in Sonoma and Mendocino, the speakers will be Anita Oberholster, Kaan Kurtural, Dario Cantu, Ron Runnebaum and David Block. For the Stanislaus County event, the proposed speakers are Kaan Kurtural, Ron Runnebaum, Andrew Waterhouse and David Smart.

Other extension efforts include organizing the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Unified Reception, which brings together 200+ alumni, faculty, students and wine and grape industry friends on the Wednesday evening of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, posting relevant industry/research news to the Department Facebook page, participating in NGWI meetings, hosting the International Cabernet Symposium, setting up industry/student information sessions and setting up small group listening sessions to further communicate with the wine and winegrape industries.