When the Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series returns this August, it will for the first time be held in the grape and wine regions of both Ontario and British Columbia.

Since its launch in 2004, the series has brought international viticultural experts to Ontario’s Niagara region to share their knowledge through vineyard visits and a public lecture relating to premium vinifera wine grape production.

This year’s speaker, Glen Creasy, a lecturer at Lincoln University in New Zealand, has done extensive viticultural research and will discuss Vine balance: ways to accelerate fruit maturity.

Created by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the Triggs Lectures are made possible through an endowment by industry leaders Donald and Elaine Triggs.

Donald Triggs praised the decision to expand the series to B.C.’s wine region.

“Elaine and I are delighted that Dr. Creasy will be sharing his knowledge on vine balance and earlier ripening with growers, students and researchers in the Okanagan as well as Ontario this year,” he said. “Achieving physiological maturity is always a big challenge in our relatively short growing season in the Okanagan and Ontario. We personally thank all of the sponsors who are contributing to making the lecture series a success.”

The expanded Triggs series ties in with a national research network between CCOVI in Ontario and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC) in British Columbia.

“The enhanced lecture series as part of CCOVI’s outreach will create an invaluable networking opportunity for the grape and wine industry across Canada,” says CCOVI director Debbie Inglis. “New linkages between the Ontario and British Columbia grape growing regions will be established, and existing ones strengthened.”

“This allows CCOVI to expand the reach and impact of these lecture series to the grape and wine community here in our area,” says PARC research scientist Pat Bowen. “The industry will benefit greatly from the knowledge of these experts.”

Schedule for Ontario:
Wednesday, Aug. 24: vineyard visits/technical workshop
Thursday, Aug. 25: public lecture, Brock University, room Academic South 216

Schedule for British Columbia:
Tuesday, Aug. 30: vineyard visits/technical workshop
Wednesday, Aug. 31: public lecture, PARC facility, Summerland, B.C.