2015 Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series visited Ravine Vineyard Wednesday morning.

After a day in the vineyard with University of California expert Glenn McGourty, the 2015 Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series moves to the classroom at Brock University Thursday.

The series, organized by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), gives the Canadian grape and wine industry access to an international viticulture expert with a day of vineyard visits followed by a public lecture the next day.

Wednesday, more than 65 grape growers, winemakers and students had the opportunity to hear McGourty, a wine-growing and plant services adviser at UC, share his knowledge on how cover crops can impact vine health and, when chosen properly, can improve fruit quality.

Thursday, McGourty will present his insights on cover crops and premium grape production during a public lecture at Brock. There is still room for those interested to attend. The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. in room 216 of South Block, and will also be live-streamed for anyone unable to attend in person.

Third-year Oenology and Viticulture student Stephanie Van Dyk says events like the Triggs Lecture give Brock students access to experts from other wine regions they wouldn’t normally have exposure to.

“This is a great supplement to what we learn in the classroom,” said Van Dyk. “It gives us additional information and an opportunity to network with growers and winemakers.”

This is the third time that the lecture series will be a national affair when it continues next week in British Columbia. Vineyard visits will take place Aug. 25 and a public lecture by McGourty will be held Aug. 26 at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre. A generous contribution from BASF Canada, a crop protection company, has sponsored the travel related costs for this leg of the lecture.

Launched in 2004, with a generous donation from Don and Elaine Triggs, the series was created to attract and showcase world leaders in the cultivation of premium vinifera grapes. The event provides industry stakeholders, researchers and students access to the most current developments in the field of viticulture.

This series is part of CCOVI’s outreach activities that support the national grape and wine industry.

For more information on the series visit: https://brocku.ca/ccovi/outreach-services/triggs-premium-vinifera-series

Here’s the link to the livestream: http://brockvideocentre.brocku.ca