Advanced viticulture and enology training workshop slated Oct. 10

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

For more than a dozen years, Oklahoma State University has offered a Grape Management Course to those individuals who have an established vineyard, or to those who are just getting into the industry.

Due to the popularity of the course, grape growers in the area now have a chance to expand their knowledge by attending the third in a series of educational opportunities called the Advanced Viticulture and Enology Training Workshops.

Slated Oct. 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cimarron Valley Research Station near Perkins, the workshop will feature Bruce Bordelon, professor of viticulture, from Purdue University. He will present “Matching Grape Varieties to the Climate: Options for the Future.”

At Purdue University, Bordelon provides statewide Extension support for the grape and small fruit industries in Indiana through a series of workshops, symposia, newsletters and web-based educational materials. His research interests include evaluation of new varieties and selections, matching varieties to sites, integrated pest management and vineyard management to improve fruit quality.

He has been a member of the Purdue Wine Grape Team since 1991. The team coordinates viticulture and enology research and develops marketing strategies to provide relevant and useful information for the wine industry.

Bordelon, a former Oklahoma resident, earned his bachelor’s degree in plant pathology from Oklahoma State University. He received his master’s degree in plant pathology from Montana State University and his doctorate in fruit breeding and genetics from the University of Arkansas.

The workshop is free, but participants are asked to register by calling Stephanie Larimer at 405-744-5404, or via email at stephanie.larimer@okstate.edu.

Becky Carroll, OSU Cooperative Extension assistant specialist, fruit crops and pecans, said the grape industry has seen some ups and downs over the last several years.

“There are various issues and concerns in the grape industry, including the economy and even the weather,” Carroll said. “Although we aren’t seeing the rapid growth in wineries and acreage of grapes planted compared to a number of years ago, we’re seeing steady improvements in grape growing and wine making expertise. Oklahoma currently has about 600 acres dedicated to the grape industry.”

Because of these improvements, Carroll said she is excited to see these advanced workshops available to grape growers. She said this new workshop will pick up where the Grape Management Course ended.

“We don’t have a great many advanced training opportunities in the state, but thanks to a grant from the Department of Commerce Viticulture and Enology Fund, we are now able to offer grape growers an opportunity to enhance their knowledge. We have been able to network with specialists from other institutions and industry professionals who will share new and up-to-date educational programs for these more advanced growers,” she said. “In addition, the workshop will provide them with better tools to manage their business, and thereby help to ensure the industry’s sustained profitability and enhance the consistence and quality of Oklahoma wines.”

A website has been established at www.grapes.okstate.edu/advanced-viticulture-workshops for people to get more information and presentations from prior workshops