Ohio Grape-Wine Electronic Newsletter

Editor: Imed Dami, PhD
Assistant Professor, Viticulture Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691-4096
Phone: (330)-263-3882
Fax: (330)-263-3887
E-mail: dami.1@osu.edu
www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/grapeweb/

8 January 2007

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Content:

Special Issue - 2007 Ohio Grape & Wine Conference
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2007 Ohio Grape & Wine Conference (OGWC) Overview
by Dr. Imed Dami, HCS-OARDC

Happy New Year!! Hope you had wonderful Holidays...and your batteries are now recharged for 2007. That means you are ready for our annual Ohio Grape & Wine Conference.
To register, please visit our website at: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/grapeweb/events/ogwc.htm. Registration form is also attached. Here is an overview of the 2007 OGWC. We hope to see you there!

The Ohio Grape & Wine Conference (OGWC) will take place on February 12 and 13, 2007 at the Shisler Conference Center - OARDC in Wooster, OH. The conference is jointly organized by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC), Ohio Wine Producers Association (OWPA), and the Viticulture & Enology Program (VEP) at OSU. The Conference will feature an overall improved program. Following feedback and suggestions from our industry leaders, producers, and educators in the past four years, we decided to implement changes to the conference in 2007. The name of the conference reflects the new era associated with this annual educational event. Formerly known as the “Ohio Grape-Wine Short Course” it is now called the “Ohio Grape and Wine Conference”. The new format will emphasize quality and affordability of the event. The conference is now held for 2 rather 3 days with more technical sessions and cost of registration has been dramatically reduced thanks to the major sponsorship provided by OGIC. There will be 4 general and 6 concurrent sessions covering a wide range of topics for grape growers, vintners, and wine marketers. Along with the technical sessions, a two-day Trade Show with both vineyard and winery equipment and services will be featured. Featured speakers from across the country will join the conference to share their knowledge and experience in current topics in viticulture, enology, and marketing. We have also included several panels of producers to share their experience and do’s and don’t for successful businesses. Special events will include the Ohio Wine Reception featuring a taste of Ohio’s versatile wines. OWPA will continue the tradition of organizing the Banquet and Hall of Fame (see attached conference agenda).

Highlights of changes and new additions to the Conference:

Full 2-day registration will cost $210 ($100 cheaper than in previous years). Full registration includes access to all technical sessions and the Trade Show. Social events and meals are also included: Buffet Lunch, Ohio Wine Reception, and Banquet on Monday; and Continental Breakfast, and Lunch with Wines on Tuesday. You are also entitled to a printed conference packet provided at the meeting and a CD-ROM of Power Point presentations sent after the conference.
Special Passes are now available for better accessibility and flexibility of the conference to attendees. Passes include: One-day conference pass; Trade Show Pass; and Conference Pass with meal options.
Technical session format: There will be general and concurrent sessions in viticulture, enology and marketing which allow more choices for attendees.
New Panel called “Ask the Experts” will be introduced at the 2007 Conference for the first time. Its purpose is to provide a “Question & Answer” arena for growers, winemakers, and marketers. Questions will be gathered and compiled before the conference and Experts will provide answers on a first-come, first-serve basis. So take advantage of this opportunity and send your questions on grape growing, wine making or marketing with the registration form.

Featured Speakers

Jean-Laurent Groux, Winemaker at Stratus Wines: Native of France, Mr. Groux studied winemaking in Burgundy. Inspired by the ideal natural growing climate in the Niagara Peninsula region in Canada, Mr. Groux accepted the head winemaking position at Hillebrand Estates Winery. In 1998, he was awarded Winemaker of the Year in Ontario. He is currently the head winemaker at the new and innovative LEED certified Stratus Wines specializing in making premium wines that do not use pumps from grapes to bottle.

Jane Baxter Lynn, JBL PR Strategies: Ms. Baxter Lynn managed the World Travel and Tourism Council’s public relations and communications efforts. From there she went to the Long Island Wine Council as Executive Director, followed by the same position for the Washington Wine Commission. Currently she is the lead consultant for JBL Public Relations Strategies providing services on global, national, and regional communications for the travel and winery industries.

Dr. Tim Martinson, Senior Extension Associate in Viticulture and Statewide Coordinator of Viticulture Extension at Cornell University. He served as Area Educator in the Finger Lakes Wine Region in New York. Recent projects include implementing sustainable vineyard practices in the Finger Lakes and he co-authored a workbook on the topic. He has also worked on irrigation and foliar nitrogen to prevent Atypical Aging (ATA) of white wines.

Dr. Cliff Ohmart, is the Research/IPM Director for the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission where he is helping winegrape growers implement sustainable farming practices. He is considered one of the pioneers and founder of sustainable viticulture in California. He has also helped California growers develop integrated pest management programs for almonds, walnuts, prunes, pistachios, and apples.

John Santos, is a Vineyard Manager at the Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Winery in the Finger Lakes in New York. He will share his experience with sustainable viticulture practices at the Hazlitt Vineyards, particularly composting.

Randy Ullom, Winemaster and Chief Operating Officer, Kendall Jackson Wine Estates: Former graduate of The Ohio State University, Mr. Ullom has extensive national and international experience in winemaking spanning from South America to New York and now California. He has been with Kendall-Jackson since 1993. He will share with us vinification practices and wine tasting of cool climate varieties from the Coastal Regions in California.

State Specialists, Extension Educators, and State agency and agribusiness representatives will present topics relevant to sustainable practices and updates on research in viticulture, enology and pest management. Speakers include: Imed Dami, Doug Doohan, Christy Eckstein, Mike Ellis, Taeyhun Ji, Greg Johns, Bill Randle, Russ Robbins, Keith Smith, Todd Steiner, Mike Widner, and Roger Williams.

Ohio grape and wine producers include: Michelle Bakan, Duke Bixler, Patti Iubelt, Claudio Salvador, Kristopher Sperry, Ken Tarsitano, and Andy Troutman.

Conference Topics

Sustainable and best practices in vineyards and wineries in the West and East Coast
Topics on pest management: diseases, insects, and weeds in vineyards
Aromatic compounds in Traminette
Survey results of the Ohio Grape and Wine Industry
The new Ohio Quality Wine: the nuts and bolts and benefits for Ohio’s grape and wine industry
Winery design and layout considerations for the new and existing winery
Vinification practices of cool climate grape varieties from the coastal regions of California
Overview of Ohio grape and wine producers’ trip to wine regions in Germany
Off-premise wine sales
Strategies of selling wines
Funding opportunities for Ohio vineyards and wineries

Lodging Information

Hotel reservations should be made directly with the hotel. Mention the “Ohio Grape and Wine Conference” for special rates. Pleas note the number of rooms blocked and the cut-off dates for special rates for each hotel. Hilton Garden Inn is almost entirely blocked (60 rooms) for the Ohio Grape and Wine Conference.

Hilton Garden Inn (across the street)
959 Dover Road
Wooster, Ohio 44691
330-202-7701
60 Rooms blocked
Rate: $69 + tax (double occupancy)
www.wooster.gardeninn.com
cut-off date January 28, 2007

Best Western Wooster Plaza (1.45 miles/3 minutes away)
243 East Liberty Street
Wooster, Ohio 44691
330-264-7750
20 Rooms blocked
Rate: $69 + tax (single or double)
www.bestwestern.com
cut-off date January 11, 2007

AmeriHost Inn Wooster – East (2.32 miles/4 minutes)
2055 Lincoln Way East
Wooster, Ohio 44691
330-262-5008
20 Rooms blocked
Rate: $50 + tax (up to 4 persons)
www.amerihostinn.com
cut-off date January 28, 2007