Washington Winegrape Meetings Draw Record Crowd

The 2011 Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) Annual Meeting, Convention, and Trade Show held in Kennewick, WA, February 8-11 drew a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,124 people attending industry workshops and sessions, and seeking the latest in services, supplies, and technology available to grape growers and wineries. More than 25 educational sessions were offered on a variety of relevant topics and current issues. The two-day, sold-out trade show featured more than 150 booths and saw a steady stream of traffic.

Poster Session Winners

This year’s WAWGG Poster Session, on Wednesday, February 9, included 35 entries with first, second, and third place prizes awarded in Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional categories.

Professional:
• 1st Place: Olufemi J. Alabi, Linga R. Gutha, James F. Harbertson, Maria Mireles, Joan Davenport, and Rayapati A. Naidu; “Impacts of grapevine leafroll disease on an own-rooted wine grape cultivar”
• 2nd Place: John C. Ferguson, Lynn J. Mills, Julie M. Tarara, Gary G. Grove, Gerrit Hoogenboom, and Markus Keller; “A computer model for predicting cold hardiness”
• 3rd Place: Naidu A. Rayapati, Olufemi J. Alabi, Sridhar Jarugula, Linga Gutha, Sudarsana Poojari, and Robert R. Martin; “Understanding genetic diversity among grapevine viruses helps to develop robust diagnostics and sound management strategies”

Graduate:
• 1st Place: Sudarsana Poojari, Patricia Okubara, Olufemi J. Alabi, and Rayapati A. Naidu; “Development of highly sensitive molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of grapevine leafroll associated viruses”
• 2nd Place: Sridhar Jarugula, Siddarame Gowda, William O. Dawson, and Rayapati A. Naidu; “Know thy enemy: Recreating a virus for R&D applications in grape virology”
• 3rd Place: Federico Casassa, Maria Mireles, Eric Harwood, and James F. Harbertson; “Unraveling effects of extended maceration in Merlot wines with different ethanol levels”

Undergraduate:
• 1st Place: Elizabeth L. Swanson, Olufemi J. Alabi, and Rayapati A. Naidu; “Studies on epidemiology of the grapevine leafroll disease”
• 2nd Place: Andrew L. Schultz and Rayapati A. Naidu; “Epidemology of the grapevine leafroll disease in Washington vineyards”
• 3rd Place: Carlye Rice and Dennis Reynolds; “Do state laws affect wine sales?”

Grower Of The Year

Tedd Wildman was the recipient of the Erick Hanson Memorial Wine Grape Grower Award. His contributions to the industry were acknowledged at the February 11 Awards Luncheon. Wildman came to Washington in the early 1980s from the Midwest. He consulted for the industry for several years before transitioning to grape growing on the Wahluke Slope. Today, Wildman is a Partner at Stone Tree Vineyard in Mattawa.

He has served on numerous board and committees — frequently as Chair — including the WAWGG board from 1996-1997. Wildman has played a significant role in research and pest management issues, and he is a founding member and past Chair of the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. Federal issues have been another area of interest and involvement for Wildman including participation in the evolution of the National Clean Plant Network.

Industry Service Volunteer

Rick Small was recognized at the Awards Luncheon for his years of tireless support of the Washington wine industry. His interest in wine making began in the mid 1970s, and he was a vineyard pioneer in an at-that-time risky and uncharted area. In 1981 he and his wife, Darcey, founded Woodward Canyon Winery, and the rest is history. Small has held multiple board positions including President of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Growers Association, precursor to Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, when the growers petitioned and received approval from the federal government for Walla Walla Valley Appellation in 1984. Small has served on the Washington State Wine Commission since 2002 and was Chair from 2007 to 2009. 2011 marks his second year as co-Chair of the Auction of Washington Wines.

2011 Board Members And Officers Announced

Three board members’ terms were up this year, and all three accepted nominations to run. Voting by ballot, the membership re-elected Lynne Chamberlain of Spofford Station Foothills Vineyard, Todd Newhouse of Upland Estates, and Kevin Corliss of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Board Officers elected for 2011 are: Chair: Lynne Chamberlain; Vice Chair: Todd Newhouse; Treasurer: Ken Lewis.

For more information on the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, go to www.wawgg.org.