The Triggs Lecture Series was founded in 2004 and is made possible through an endowment provided by Elaine Triggs, left, and Donald Triggs, right. They are pictured here at Culmina Family Estates Winery with their daughter Sara Triggs.The Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series marks its landmark 10th instalment this year by featuring a European expert who will explore crop development practices relevant to many North American grape growers.
Held every two years in the key wine producing regions of both Ontario and British Columbia, the Triggs Lecture has blossomed into a must-see event on many calendars in the grape and wine industry.
This year’s lectures and vineyard tours take place Aug. 3 and 4 at Brock University and at four vineyard sites in Ontario’s Niagara region; and on Aug. 8 and 9 in the Kelowna area and Summerland Research and Development Centre in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley.
Organized by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the event hosts international experts who provide grape growers, industry stakeholders, researchers and students with access to the most current developments in the field of viticulture.
This year’s featured speaker is Stefano Poni, professor of Viticulture and Chair of the Instituto of Frutti-Viticoltura of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, Italy. Poni will address the impacts of different canopy management practices on overall crop development, methods to delay or enhance fruit maturity and timings that will influence final crop quality.
CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis said it’s fitting that this year’s 10th instalment of the Triggs Lecture has secured a renowned international leader on critical aspects of vineyard management.
“This series is an important part of CCOVI’s outreach activities to support the national grape and wine industry,” said Inglis. “It is crucial that we continue to offer unique educational opportunities to our partners in Ontario and British Columbia.”
In each province, the first day of the event includes vineyard visits and a technical tour, with a public lecture being held on day two.
Donald Triggs, the industry leader who founded the lecture series, said the format gives participants hands-on engagement with Poni at vineyard sites, as well as an opportunity to hear in detail about his principles for increasing grape and wine quality.
“The vineyard visits are very valuable because they bring experts from around the world right to growers in Niagara and the Okanagan,” said Triggs. “It’s really a collaborative exchange of ideas and about sharing and learning from each other in the growing industry.”
The Ontario public lecture on Aug. 4 will be livestreamed for those unable to attend; the link will be available that day on brocku.ca/ccovi. The video will also be posted to CCOVI’s online archive following the lecture.
All lectures and site visits are free, but an RSVP to ccovi@brocku.ca by July 28 is required.
Schedule for Ontario event:
Thursday, Aug. 3 — Four vineyard site visits and technical workshop
Site 1:
- 9 a.m. Andrew Peller Ltd., Clark Vineyard — Access east side of Con. 7, just north of 1390 Conc. 7, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Topic: Comparing high density planting to standard spacing for Pinot Noir
Site 2:
- 10:30 a.m. Glenlake Vineyards – Access off Lakeshore Rd, opposite Old Town Gardens — 716 Lakeshore Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake
Topic: Canopy Management for different training systems - 12-1:15 p.m. Barbeque lunch at Seeger Farms 1315A Line 2, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Site 3:
- 1:15 p.m. Seeger Vineyard
Topic: Canopy management practices for different cultivars
Site 4: - 2:30 p.m. Chateau des Charmes, 1025 York Rd, St. Davids
Topic: Canopy management for spur pruned systems
Friday, Aug. 4 — Public Lecture
- 3 p.m. Location: Pond Inlet, Brock University
Topic: Canopy management — Making it work. Reception to follow.
About the Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series
Launched in 2004, the Triggs Lectures are made possible through a generous endowment by Donald and Elaine Triggs. Originating as a means to attract and showcase world leaders in the cultivation of premium vinifera grapes, the series expanded its offerings to both the Ontario and British Columbia grape and wine regions in 2011 thanks to the support of BASF Canada.
