The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) Board announced Dr. Jim Wolpert, Viticulture Specialist, University of California-Davis, as ASEV's 2013 Merit Award recipient.
Jim Wolpert is a native of Indiana. He received his bachelor of science from Purdue University in Horticulture in 1973. He took further training at Michigan State University, receiving a Master's degree in 1978 and a PhD in 1983. Both thesis projects involved research on production practices of 'Concord' grapes and how these practices influence vine cold hardiness.
In 1983, he joined UC Davis and from 1983 through mid-1985, he worked as a postdoctoral scholar in the Pomology Department, working on production problems of pistachio nut trees in California.
In 1985, Jim joined the Department of Viticulture and Enology as a Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist, where he is responsible for applied research and grower education programs for winegrapes in Northern California. His main areas of research are performance of rootstocks, winegrape clones and varieties, as well as improvements in vineyard design and cultural practices as they influence wine quality.
He has been invited to speak at industry meetings in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, as well as in Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain, and is the author of more than 50 scientific and technical publications.
He is past-president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and was co-organizer of many successful ASEV symposia on topics such as rootstocks, winegrape clones, and alternative varieties. Jim is also past chair of the Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis, where he held the title of Marvin Sands Endowed Department Chair and was instrumental in creating the Department's Board of Visitors and Fellows to help guide the future vision of the department in sustaining continued excellence.
Jim’s achievements will be celebrated at the National ASEV Conference in Monterey, California, on June 24-28, 2013.
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