Speakers
The 12th Annual
Miguel Altieri
Professor, University of California, Berkeley
Holding a PhD in Entomology from the University of Florida, Miguel heads a research group at UC Berkeley which uses the concepts of agroecology to obtain a deep understanding of the nature of agroecosystems and the principles by which they function. In particular, his research has focused on the ways in which biodiversity can contribute to the design of pest-stable agroecosystems through intercropping, covercropping, weed management and crop-field border vegetation manipulation.
Miguel’s laboratory is involved in several field projects in California, testing ideas of landscape ecology applied to agriculture, such as exploring whether corridors can break the nature of monocultures by serving as conduits for the dispersion of natural enemies within the field. The vineyard effects of summer cover crops on insect pest populations and associated natural enemies are also being examined.
Miguel’s group is also engaged in collaborative work with a number of Universities, NGOs and research centers in Africa, Asia and Latin America promoting research, training and capacity building in agroecology and sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Pat Bowen
Research Scientist - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture
Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC) Summerland
Pat Bowen is a Research Scientist at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland where she leads a program in Sustainable Production of Quality Wine Grapes. She is a whole-plant physiologist and works mainly on grapevine developmen¬tal response to resource supply. In this area she is developing irrigation strategies for improving wine grape quality while conserving water, and is collaborating on research using cover crops and resource management to improve vine balance and vineyard ecology. She has also developed a geographic information system (GIS) for viticulture in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys which is used to assess terroir and its interaction with management practices. Her current work in this area is exploring the influence of terroir on the character of varietal wines.
Tom Forge
Research Soil Ecologist- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture
Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC) Agassiz
Tom Forge is a research soil ecologist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC) in Agassiz, BC. Tom’s primary area of expertise is the ecology of plant-parasitic nematodes, and his educational background includes a B.Sc. in Biology from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before assuming his current position, Tom did post-doctoral research in Scotland, Victoria, BC, and Oregon State University; his postdoctoral research experiences ranged from research on the effects of municipal biosolids on soil biological activity to the use of winter cover crops for nematode suppression in small-fruit cropping systems. Tom’s postdoctoral work at OSU included involvement in a study of the distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes in Oregon vineyards.
Tom assumed his current position at AAFC-PARC in 2001. His research at PARC is directed at understanding the influences of alternative soil, nutrient and water management practices on root health and population dynamics of plant-parasitic nematodes and other soil-borne pathogens of perennial fruit crops. Current projects include: (1) Influences of water and nitrogen inputs on population dynamics of root-lesion nematodes and Phytophthora rubi in red raspberry, (2) Impacts of stubby-root nematodes on highbush blueberry production, (3) Influences of alternative mulches and nitrogen inputs on root growth and mycorrhizae of blueberry, and (4) Population dynamics and impacts of ring nematodes parasitizing grapevines, in relation to nitrogen and water inputs.
Kellie Garcia, B.Sc., A.Ag.
Director of Insight Environmental Consulting Ltd.
Kellie Garcia is the owner and director of Insight Environmental Consulting Ltd., a Kelowna-based company that provides facilitation, research, and writing services specializing in environmental issues, sustainable practices, and resource management. Kellie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and is an Articling Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists.
Much of Kellie’s work over the last decade has focused on assisting multi-stakeholder committees with the preparation of management plans, sustainability documents, and best management practices guides. In 2005-06, she coordinated the 26-member volunteer advisory forum for the Cowichan Basin Water Management Plan project, co-authored the management plan, and assisted with the public outreach and consultation program. In 2008, she was the lead technical writer who worked with the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council to produce the Okanagan Sustainable Water Strategy. She is currently working with the Sustainable Practices Committee of the BC Wine Grape Council to prepare and implement the BC Sustainable Winegrowing Program. She has spent the last three years reviewing sustainable practices programs from around the globe, facilitating workshops with the committee, writing the workbooks and assessments for the program, and coordinating the pilot projects.
Mark Hicken
Vintage Law Group, Vancouver
Mark Hicken is a lawyer providing a full range of legal services to the wine industry through his own law practice, Vintage Law Group, located in Vancouver, BC. Mark has a B.A. (Honours) from UBC and a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He is a member of the Law Society of B.C., the Canadian Bar Association, the International Association of Wine Lawyers (Association Internationale des Juristes du Vin) and the American Society for Enology & Viticulture. He has also completed the Wine Executive Program at the University of California, Davis. Mark is also a member of the advisory board for the BC Hospitality Foundation and is an associate member of the Import Vintners & Spirits Association. Mark has a diverse background including time spent working for larger Vancouver law firms such as Lawson Lundell and Russell & DuMoulin (now Fasken Martineau), entrepreneurial technology businesses and marketing agencies. Mark has supported the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival for about a decade and is currently a member of the Gala Wine Committee.
Recently, Mark has also been interviewed and quoted on wine law issues in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Province, the Calgary Herald, the Advocate, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Lawyers Weekly, CKNW radio, CBC radio, CBC television, Global television and in the trade publication Wines & Vines. Mark was the co-chair of both the November 2009 conference in Vancouver, Winery and Wine Distribution Law and the 2011 Wine Law in British Columbia Conference.
Dr. David G. James
Washington State University, Prosser, WA
Holding a Doctorate in entomology from Macquarie University, Australia, David James has 35 years experience in entomological research ranging from butterfly biology and ecology to integrated pest management and biological control, specializing in acarology, chemical ecology, conservation biological control and integrated pest management. David has successfully researched, developed and implemented IPM systems based on conservation biological control for insect and mite pests in citrus, stone fruit, pastures and grapes in Australia. His pioneering work on methyl salicylate as a natural enemy attractant identified the use of herbivore-induced plant volatiles as an IPM tool. He has more than 700 articles published to date, including 170 in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
An Associate Professor at Washington State University, Prosser, David is currently involved in developing strategies for hops and grapes in Washington State.
Galina Kirilova Seabrook
Micro-oxygenation Consultant/Oak Infusion Specialist-Winemaker
INNERSTAVE, LLC
Galina Seabrook was born in Bulgaria, graduated in 1987 from the Higher Institute of Food Industry in Plovdiv, with a Bachelor's Degree in Winemaking and Spirits Production, adding to this a Diploma in Business Management in 1996.
In her early career, for nine years Ms. Seabrook worked as a winemaker at Vinex-Preslav(white and rose still wines) and a Consultant Winemaker for Lovico-Suhindol (production of premium red wines) - two of the largest and most prestigious wineries in Bulgaria at the time. From 1996-1998 she traveled to Australia and spent 3 vintages in various wine areas in the states of South Australia and Victoria and worked with the well known Australian consulting company WineNetwork. Coming to USA in 1997, Galina served as an Assistant Winemaker at the Kendall-Jackson.
In January 2000 she joined the winemakers’ team at Vinovation, Inc. as a Consultant in Micro-oxygenation and oak and wine expert. Since the establishment in September, 2004 of the USA brunch of Oenodev, the innovative inventors of micro-oxygenation and manufacturers of premium quality oak chips, Ms. Seabrook became its US manager and senior winemaker.
In the spring of 2008, Galina Seabrook joined the pioneer US producer of barrel alternatives Innerstave, LLC as an oak infusion specialist and in-house winemaker.
Joshua Maloney
Red Winemaker, Chateau Ste. Michelle
Joshua Maloney’s obsession with wine used to get him in trouble when he’d get caught reading wine publications at work. It all started when Joshua took a wine tasting class as an undergraduate at Cornell University. “For the first time, I was jumping out of bed in the morning, excited to go to class.”
After graduating with a degree in chemistry, Joshua, a New York na¬tive, worked as a research technician and wine auctioneer before getting his start in the winemaking business as an assistant winemaker for a small winery in the Finger Lakes region. The winery’s size offered Joshua hands-on experience in every aspect of winemaking from the vineyard through to bottling.
From New York, Joshua and his wife, Lisa, moved to California where he worked for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars as a lab technician and cellar worker and later at Estancia Estates Winery where he oversaw the Merlot program and made decisions regarding picking, fermentation, aging and blending Merlot.
In April 2005, Joshua joined Chateau Ste. Michelle as red winemaker. At 32, Joshua was the youngest person to be named to the position in the winery’s history. Joshua manages day-to-day operations at Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Canoe Ridge Estate red winemaking operations near Paterson, Washington, reporting to head winemaker Bob Bertheau. Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the few premium wineries in the world with two winemaking operations, one devoted to whites in Woodinville, Washington (15 miles north¬east of Seattle) and another devoted to reds in eastern Washington, overlooking the Columbia River.
Upon arriving in Washington State, Joshua was impressed with the premium fruit he has to work with. “The grapes that go into our Chateau Ste. Michelle red wines are much higher quality than what I’ve had access to in the past,” Joshua says. “I’m amazed by the intensity and structure of Washington fruit, especially the Cab-like Merlots. In addition to the quality of grapes, we also have great resources to pull from and a cooperative and supportive spirit amongst the winemaking team.”
Joshua’s goal with Chateau Ste. Michelle’s red wines is “to make wine that’s approachable without dumbing it down.” To achieve this, Joshua and the red winemaking team strive to produce a softer mouthfeel and enhanced complexity in the Chateau Ste. Michelle red wines, while highlighting Washington fruit character.
Dr. Stefano Poni
Professor of Viticulture and Chair of the Istituto of Frutti-Viticoltura
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza
Stefano Poni has been full professor of Viticulture and Chair of the Istituto of Frutti-Viticoltura of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza since 1 November 2009.
He has authored or co-authored 146 papers, 50 of which published in international, refereed journals and 35 edited in international refereed proceedings. Invited speaker at the 9th Wine Industry Technical Conference in Adelaide (1995), 1st International Course of Viticulture in Neuquen, Argentina (2003), Intern, Terroir Conference in Cape Town, South Africa (2004), 14th GESCO meeting in Germany (2005), 10th Congress of Viticulture and Enology in Brasil (2005), 5th World Wine Forum in Spain (2006), OIV – Gruppo di Esperti fisiologia della vite, Parigi (2006), Bi-Coastal Sangiovese Symposium, San Francisco e New York (2007), 5th Encuentro Enologico, Madrid (2008), Mark Kliewer’s Symposium, Davis, California (2009), Infowine Forum, Vila Real, Portogallo (2010), 14th Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide, Australia (2010), Workshop of Grapevine Ecophysiology, Mendoza, Argentina (2010).
He has been awarded of the "Perdisa" Prize in 1994, the “Enotecnici” Prize in 2004 and the Rudolf Hermanns Foundation Award in 2011.Full member of the Italian Academy of Grape and Wine and Co-Editor of the ISHS volume on "Strategies to Optimise Winegrape Quality".
He currently serves as a peer reviewer for the following journals: American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, HortScience, American Journal of Horticultural Science, Scientia Horticulturae, Functional Plant Biology, Annals of Botany, South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Ecological Modeling, Irrigation Science, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science, Journal International des Science de la Vigne et du Vin, Agriculture and Forest Meteorology. Associate editor for the Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. since 1 January 2006.
Ha has also been chief or local coordinator of several national (Prin 2000, 2001, 2004) and regional research grants. For the 2006-2009 he is partner in two international granted projects led by the University of Rioja (Spain). Unit coordinator of the FP7-SME-2010-1 “A web-based system for real-time Monitoring and Decision Making for Integrated Vineyard Management” MoDeM_IVM (Total budget 1.295.200 €): the aim of this project is to develop a new, interactive, web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for integrated management of the vineyard.
Dr. Naidu Rayapati
Associate Professor, Washington State University, USA
Dr. Naidu Rayapati is currently an Associate Professor (Virology) in the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University’s Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC), Prosser, WA 99350, USA.
He initiated grape virology program at WSU-IAREC in 2004 for the sustainability of Washington State’s wine grape industry. Currently, the grape virology team includes one faculty researcher, three graduate students, three post‐doctoral associates and two undergraduate students. The team conducts basic and applied research on virus and virus‐like diseases of wine grapes involving interdisciplinary and trans‐institutional collaborations. Dr. Rayapati’s program has documented several important grapevine viruses, generated knowledge on genetic diversity and molecular biology of grapevine viruses, conducted research on impacts of grapevine leafroll disease (GLRD) on vine health and fruit quality and studied epidemiology of GLRD.
He disseminates science-based knowledge to grape and wine industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies in the region through various dissemination pathways like the web site (http://wine.wsu.edu/research-extension/plant-health/virology/), extension bulletins (e.g. EB2027E on grapevine leafroll disease), newsletter articles, college and industry news releases, presentations at industry-sponsored meetings and workshops/tail gate meetings. An undergraduate course “Pl P 300: Diseases of Fruit Crops” is offered for students in Viticulture and Enology Program. Lectures and field visits for students in community colleges and viticulture certificate programs strengthened wine industry‐guided education programs to meet the needs of Washington State’s rapidly expanding viticulture and wine industry.
Dr. Rayapati’s research, extension, and teaching activities are supported by WSU, the Wine Advisory Committee of the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration, the USDA‐ARS Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research, the USDA‐NIFA Viticulture Consortium‐West, and the USDA-NIFA-Specialty Crops Research Initiative.
Rhonda Smith
Viticulture Farm Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension, Sonoma County
Rhonda Smith is the Viticulture Farm Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Sonoma County where she is responsible for developing an educational and applied research program for vineyard owners, managers and pest control advisers in the production of wine grapes. Her research has included clonal and rootstock evaluations, irrigation scheduling and insect and disease pest management. She assists growers with the identification and resolution of field problems through farm calls, meetings and newsletter. She advises grower organizations and resource and regulatory agencies in issues pertaining to sustainable and organic production practices, natural resource protection, and control of introduced insect pests of grapes.
Rhonda has collaborated with UC Davis Extension Plant Pathologist Dr. Douglas Gubler and his lab in investigations on trunk canker diseases and with Plant Pathologist Dr. Adib Rowhani at UC Davis Foundation Plant Services on syrah decline as well as with disorders associated with graft transmissible agents. In 2007, she co-organized the Syrah Vine Health Symposium at UC Davis and brought together researchers from California, France and South Africa who presented results of their investigations to determine the cause of the disease.
José Ramón Úrbez-Torres
Visiting Fellow in the Plant Pathology Laboratory
Pacific Agri-Food Research (PARC) Summerland
Dr. Urbez-Torres was born in Zaragoza, Spain. In 2000, he completed the studies of Technical Agricultural Engineer (B.Sc.) at the University of Valladolid, Spain. In 2001, he finished a Master in viticulture, enology and wine marketing, a postgraduate program offered by the International Social Science Council. During the same period and for over a year, Dr. Urbez-Torres worked first as Research Assistant and second as Technical Agricultural Engineer in the Department of Crop Protection at the “Instituto Tecnológico Agrario (I.T.A.)”, a research institution of the Castilla y León Provincial Government in Spain. During that time he work and conducted research in developing and implementing novel identification and control techniques for both grapevine pests and diseases.
In 2004, he completed the studies of Agricultural Engineer (M.Sc.) at the University of Valladolid. Previously in 2003, he moved to work as a Postgraduate Researcher to the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis under the supervision of Dr. Walter D. Gubler. In 2005 he enrolled in the Ph.D. program in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis. Although his main research was focused on grapevine trunk diseases, Dr. Urbez-Torres also worked and conducted research on different fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of perennial fruit and nut trees including grapevines. He completed his Ph.D. in 2009. He worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher under the supervision of Dr. Walter D. Gubler for one year conducting research on olive dieback in California.
In October of 2010 he started his position as Visiting Fellow in the Plant Pathology Laboratory at Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Bowen and Daniel O’Gorman, where he is currently conducting research on determining the status of grapevine trunk diseases in British Columbia as well as developing efficient grapevine trunk disease pathogens diagnostic tools.
Dr. Kevin Usher
Research Scientist – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture
Pacific Agri-Food Research (PARC) Summerland
Kevin Usher received his Ph.D. in plant biochemistry from the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia in 2001. He studied physiology and biochemistry of medicinal plants with an emphasis on environmental factors influencing plant secon¬dary metabolism. In 2001 he began a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland working on biochemistry of wine grapes. Dr. Usher became a term research scientist at PARC in 2004 and became permanent in November 2006. His current research focus is the biochemistry of grapes and wine toward improving wine quality.
