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News from Cornell's Viticulture and Enology Program
May 31, 2016

RESEARCH FOCUS

Clean Plants for the Future of the Eastern Wine and Grape Industry
Based on the recent National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) webinar series, learn how the NCPN, new testing protocols and a revitalized New York certification program will reduce the risk of nursery-transmitted viral pathogens.

FACULTY FOCUS

Five Questions for Marc Fuchs
Marc Fuchs, associate professor in the Dept. of Plant Pathology, discusses growing up on a family vineyard and his research with viral pathogens of horticultural crops.

STUDENT FOCUS

Way Beyond Wine: New Beer and Distillation Courses in CALS
New classes in the Viticulture and Enology program offer students firsthand experience distilling beverages such as brandy and rum, as well as brewing beer.  

GRAPES 101

This Article Contains Sulfites - Part II
Chris Gerling, enology extension associate, discusses the role of sulfites in winemaking, and some surprising challenges in measuring free and bound SO₂.

INDUSTRY FOCUS

New Scholarship Helps Students, Long Island Merlot Industry
Suffolk County students attending Cornell's viticulture and enology program are eligible for a new scholarship offered by the Long Island Merlot Alliance.

Research in Plain English

• Grapevine red blotch-associated virus is present in free-living Vitis sp. proximal to cultivated grapevines

• Impact of undervine management on vine growth, yield, fruit composition, and wine sensory analyses of Cabernet franc

IN THE NEWS​

• How Climate Change Will Transform What's in Your Wine Glass
  In this Huffington Post article, Justine Vanden Heuvel discusses how climate change, if left unchecked, will impact nearly every aspect of the wine industry, ranging from wine styles to production practices.
• New York Wineries Hope Palates Warm to Cold-Hardy Grape Varietals
  Local winemakers are creating viable businesses thanks to new cold-hardy grapes, according to Tim Martinson in this New York Times article.
• Wine Drinkers Need to Branch Out
   Genetic diversity among wine grapes is essential for protecting against pests and diseases.  Supporting vineyards and wineries that work with different grape varieties also supports a diverse, robust wine industry, according to Justine Vanden Heuvel.
• Grape Virus Expert Fuchs Wins Industry Research Award
  Marc Fuchs, associate professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, receives the 2016 Research Award from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation for his commitment to research on the vineyard diseases leafroll and red blotch.  Additional information can be found in this CALS Notes post.

FEATURED VIDEO

In this YouTube video, Marc Fuchs discusses the causes of grapevine red blotch, a recently-identified viral disease which affects vineyards across North America.