2010 Review - Geneva, New York

The following is from the July 21, 2010 article titled 'Eastern' Wine Society Extends to Rockies by Hudson Cattell

Eastern Section Expands to the Continental Divide, Adding 10 States and 3 Provinces

Eastern Section Expands to the Continental Divide, Adding 10 States and 3 Provinces

A bylaws amendment to extend the boundaries of the Eastern Section of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture westward to the Continental Divide was approved at the society’s 35th annual conference held from July 12 to 15 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

The bylaws change, previously approved by the national ASEV, defines the section’s geographical area as encompassing “all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with territory east of the Continental Divide, including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Alberta (Canada) and all states/provinces east.” Previously, the section included “all states east of the western boundaries of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana, and the Canadian provinces east of the Ontario-Manitoba border.”

A major reason for the change was that the Eastern Section wants to be able to draw on ASEV members from this expanded area for eligibility as board members and officers. The section bylaws state that officers and board members must reside within the boundaries of the Eastern Section. One rationale for the change was that the areas of the Great Plains east of the Rockies share the diverse varieties of grapes and the often-challenging winter temperatures with members within the original section. Framers of the new boundaries recognized that parts of Texas, Colorado and New Mexico do not fit the “continental and cool climate paradigm,” while others do.

Annual Meeting Review

Approximately 127 people attended the annual conference that began with a pre-conference tour of five Finger Lakes wineries and concluded with a “Making Sense of Sensory Evaluation” symposium. The Eastern Section presented three awards at the annual banquet on July 13th. Ellie Butz received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 23 years of service as a section board member, treasurer and chairperson. In June of this year, Butz received a merit award from the national ASEV.

The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Dr. Andrew Reynolds for outstanding research and leadership in linking viticultural practice and wine quality attributes in cool-climate areas of North America during his career at the Summerland Research Station in British Columbia and at Brock University. Chris Stamp, the winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards, Watkins Glen, N.Y., was presented with a Distinguished Service Award honoring his contributions to the development and success of the Eastern Section.

The section awarded eight $1,000 scholarships this year to the following students: Eli Bergmeier, University of Missouri; Marin Brewer, Cornell University; Jackie Harris, University of Missouri; Cain Hickey, Virginia Tech; Becky Nelson, Cornell University; Lydia Rice, University of Arkansas; Imelda Ryona, Cornell University; and Justin Scheiner, Cornell University.

Winners of the student paper competition each received $500. The award for the best paper in viticulture, sponsored by National Grape Cooperative, went to Michelle Moyer, a student at Cornell University. Lallemand Inc. sponsored the award for best paper in enology, which was presented to Imelda Ryona, also a student at Cornell.

Election results were announced at the annual business meeting. Hans Walter-Peterson of Cornell Cooperative Extension is chairman-elect. Three new members of the board of directors were elected: Kevin W. Ker, Ker Crop Management Services and Brock University; Lisa Smiley, Iowa State University, and Fritz Westover, Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Anna Katharine Mansfield of Cornell was re-elected to the board. Imed Dami of Ohio State University is chairman for 2010-11, and Keith Striegler of the University of Missouri became the past chairman.