Enology-Grape Chemistry at Virginia Tech
There is a new one day program, Winery Tasting Room Design and On-Site Marketing on November, 14, 2009 in Dobson, North Carolina. Click here or on the Enology Extension Short Courses link to the left for more information.
New information is available on the 2009 Wine Industry Technical Study Tour. This year, we will go to the Rhône Valley, Provence, Languedoc from December 1st through the 9th. Click above or the link on the left side to view a pdf with more information.
Winery Sustainability Program Online. In early 2008, we organized a very successful Winery Sustainability and Design program covering many winery sustainability issues. Because of the success of this event and the importance of the subject, I have posted an Adobe Presenter version of this online. The subjects included in these audio and Power Point slide presentations are as follows:
- Sustainability in Winery Design
- Sustainable Winery Architecture
- Why Solar, Why Now
- Gravity Flow Design, Principles and Practices
- Cellars, Caves and Earth-Sheltered Design
- Winery Construction and Sustainable Building Materials
For more information, click "Winery Sustainability Program Online" in our menu left.
The Wine/Enology - Grape Chemistry Group at Virginia Tech, exists to support the growth and development of the wine industry. This goal is accomplished through teaching, extension and research. Grape quality is the most important parameter governing wine quality. Variations in climate, ripening, and diseases can cause inadequate or uneven fruit maturity, resulting in wines of reduced varietal complexity and thus reduced value. Much of our efforts have been directed towards evaluations of impacts of various vineyard management practices on grape-derived free volatiles, and bound aroma/flavor precursors. Studies have been conducted evaluation different processing methods on grape and wine aroma and flavor compounds. Information on these and other subjects are posted either in Enology Notes, On-Line Publications or the Research section of this web site.
Technological advancements are enhanced through a wide variety of extensive short-course program, extension publications, a bi-monthly newsletter. To receive Enology Notes, an electronic technical brief send an email note to with the word ADD in the subject line.
The Enology-Grape Chemistry Group is also involved in training prospective industry members through undergraduate and graduate programs and an active internship program.