EPISODE # 27 ENOLOGY PROFESSOR EMERITUS BRUCE ZOECKLEIN/VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY

Send us Fan MailBruce Zoecklein began his career in Enology on the staff at Fresno State University in California.  He was recruited in 1985 by the University of Virginia to head up a new initiative to support the Virginia wine industry.  His West Coast friends thought he was "crazy" as they couldn't fathom that quality wine was being produced in Virginia.  Bruce took the position and relocated to Virginia.  His contribution to winemaking in the Old Dominion has been significant and he is well respected by the Industry at large, not just in Virginia, but throughout the country.  He continues to consult for numerous wine producers in Virginia and the West Coast including Oregon & Washington State as well as California.  He has co-authored books on Enology, written for numerous publications and has been quoted and relied upon for advice to this day.  While he is retired and Professor Emeritus with an office at Virginia Tech he is by no means retired or finished working and making a contribution to the wine industry.HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:a).  Bruce details his early career and how he went from teaching Enology at Fresno State University in California to Virginia.b). He goes on to make a comment about how his friends on the West Coast couldn't believe that Virginia could possibly produce quality wine.c). He explains how he was recruited for the position at Virginia Tech University in 1985.d). Bruce expands on the progress that he has seen and has been a part of during the past three decades of winegrowing in the Old Dominion.e). Specifically he explains how in his opinion the 2003 vintage in Virginia, which was more than challenging proved to him that Virginia had arrived and could produce good wine in a wet year.f). He answers my question about the difference in growing grapes in Virginia vs the West Coast.h). Bruce gives me his thoughts and opinions on the future of Hybrid grapes and wine in Virginia.i). He wrote a terrific opinion piece for Wines & Vines in  the February 2018 edition about the effect of Climate Changes on Winegrowing and responds to my questions about Climate Change with the authority of an Enology Professor who grasps the significance of what is happening.Much, much more.  Listen below or read the text transcript.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com