CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 01/29/20

UGA viticulturist, plant pathologist to present at Wine Producers Conference Feb. 3-4

By Sharon Dowdy

The annual Georgia Wine Producers Conference will be held Feb. 3-4 at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia. 

Fritz Westover of Westover Viticulture and Virtual Viticulture Academy will serve as keynote speaker for the conference. Westover will speak on “A new era for grape growing in Georgia: Learning from the past and adapting to new practices for the future.”

Researchers from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University and Virginia Technical Institute will be among the conference speakers.

UGA plant pathologist Phil Brannen will provide a disease update focused on powdery and downy mildew.

UGA viticulturist Cain Hickey will give a presentation on the effects of delayed pruning on Lomanto and Chardonnay.

Wine producers will learn how to optimize the quality and production of Blan Du Bois from Texas A&M Extension Viticulture Specialist Justin Scheiner. He will also discuss his research and experience on Blanc Du Bois rootstocks and nutrition, salinity, viruses and ripening.

Virginia Tech Enology Extension Specialist Beth Chang will give a presentation on the basics about acids and their effects on wine production. She will discuss the difference between pH and TA, the relationship of pH to TA, their respective influence on flavor, the types of grape acids that contribute to pH and TA, and the effects of changing pH and TA to the final wine product’s stability and quality.

Renee Moss, co-owner of Farmer’s Daughter Vineyard in Thomasville, Georgia, will share creative ways to spread the word about vineyards or tasting rooms. Vineyard managers will also hear Moss’ creative tips on how to work with the community, customers and the media to spread the word.

The conference will also include viticulture, customer service and enology discussion panels. Sessions will also be held on alcohol liability and special events permits.

Registration to the conference also includes admission to the Taste of Georgia event on Feb. 3 from 6-9 p.m. Participants will enjoy samples from 10 Georgia wineries and 10 Georgia eateries. 

Participating wineries include: Big Door Vineyards; Chateau Elan Winery; Crane Creek Vineyards; Farmer's Daughter Tasting Room, Vineyards and Winery; Habersham Winery; Kaya Vineyards and Winery; Paulk Vineyards; Stonewall Creek Vineyards; Sweet Acre Farms Winery and Yonah Mountain Vineyards.

The cost of the conference is $160 for Georgia Wine Producers members, $175 for nonmembers and $40 for Extension agents. For more details or to register, visit georgiawineproducers.org/event-3478963.

Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Sharon Dowdy
Experts/Sources:
Phillip M. Brannen
Cain Hickey
The Feb. 3-4 Georgia Wine Producers conference includes the Taste of Georgia event on Feb. 3 from 6-9 p.m. Participants will enjoy samples from 10 Georgia wineries and 10 Georgia eateries.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Bob Kemerait is well known for his devotion to the agricultural community of Georgia. He is also known for his international work with colleagues and small-scale farmers around the world. Recently, Kemerait took a team from UGA Extension to the Philippines, where he serves as a Fulbright specialist and works with the faculty at Mariano Marcos State University and farmers in the northern Philippines to improve disease management and other production practices. CAES News
UGA plant pathologist works to improve crop management and empower farmers across the globe 11/05/24 Robert C Kemerait Jr
As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Bob Kemerait is well known for his devotion to the agricultural community of Georgia. He is also known for his international work with colleagues and small-scale farmers around the world. Recently, Kemerait took a team from UGA Extension to the Philippines, where he serves as a Fulbright specialist.
University of Georgia startup CytoNest Inc. released its first commercial product this year, a fiber scaffold that optimizes cell manufacturing and tissue engineering. (Photo by Lauren Corcino) CAES News
UGA again ranks No. 1 in new research-based products 11/04/24 Brandon Ward
The University of Georgia once again ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. For nine straight years, UGA has placed in the top two and has never appeared out of the Top 5 in the 11 years the survey has been reported by AUTM. UGA industry partners and startups released a record 66 new products developed from the university’s research in fiscal year 2023, on which the AUTM report is based.
Seth McAllister and farmer Mark Daniel discuss crop production and agritourism. CAES News
UGA Extension supports agritourism through expert advice and collaboration 10/24/24 Emily Cabrera
On a sunny day with bright-blue skies, I arrive at Mark’s Melon Patch in Sasser, Georgia, and immediately spot the familiar white University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pickup truck, the Terrell County Extension logo prominently displayed on the door. Seth McAllister, the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Terrell County, greets me with a broad grin and a firm handshake. Terrell County alone has 60,000 acres of row crops, half in cotton. But what McAllister loves most about his role as an Extension agent is the diversity of his work.
Combining data collection and analysis with plant pathology, precision agriculture and robotics, the UGA team will build a photographic library of the foliar symptoms caused by onion diseases and other physiological disorders, feed them into the AI software, and use machine learning to identify the diseases based on pattern and color recognition from the images. CAES News
UGA uses AI, robotics to improve Georgia’s Vidalia sweet onion crop 10/23/24 Jordan Powers
A multidisciplinary team of UGA researchers aims to enhance the competitiveness of Vidalia onion growers in Georgia by providing them with the ability to confidently detect onion diseases early, enabling them to make management decisions on their crop at a critical time. These abilities, researchers say, should result in increased yield and quality of marketable onions and an overall increase in efficiency and productivity.
Associate Professor Rhuanito Ferrarezi poses with a Gerber daisy grown by students in his 4050/6050 Greenhouse Management class in fall 2023. CAES News
Upcoming UGA plant sales bring color to fall 10/15/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Fall weather means fall gardening, and several groups at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will be offering the fruits of their labors at ornamental plant sales across campus this semester. On Friday, Oct. 18, the Trial Gardens at University of Georgia will hold its annual Fall Houseplant Sale, and on Wednesday, Nov. 20, greenhouse management students will offer their ornamental plant sale at the South Milledge Greenhouse Complex.