MEDIA RELEASE: 13 February 2017 – R00032
It began in 2007 as a way to get timely research out of the lab and into the hands of Ontario grape growers and winemakers.
Today the annual lecture series by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) has a global reach. Since introducing live webcasting in 2012, and creating an online archive of the presentations by leading scientists and industry experts, the videos have had more than 7,000 views from 43 countries worldwide.
It all starts up again this week as the 2017 series of weekly lectures takes place on Wednesday.
“The series started as a way to get our research out to the growers and winemakers in our own backyard,” said CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis. “Taking the series online has been a real game-changer allowing us to share our industry-driven research across Canada and around the world.”
Topics for this year’s series span the grape and wine value chain examining areas from sparkling wine production, to the effect wine ratings have on prices, and how climate change is impacting Ontario’s wine industry. The series will also bring in two Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers from British Columbia to share their latest findings.
The free lectures start a 2 p.m., except for Feb. 24, and will take place in room H313 of the Mackenzie Chown complex at Brock University.
To watch the live webcasts or archived videos, go to brocku.ca/ccovi
Lineup and dates for the 2017 CCOVI Lecture Series:
• Feb. 15: Belinda Kemp, CCOVI Oenologist, Brock University
“A comparison of clones from Champagne and Burgundy grown in Ontario for sparkling wine production”
• Feb. 24, 10 a.m.: Kevin Usher, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
“The effects of pre-bloom, fruit set and veraison leaf removal on yield, composition and wine quality in the Okanagan Valley”
• March 1: Wendy McFadden-Smith, Tender Fruit and Grape IPM Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
“Sour rotted grapes: Managing your preharvest breakdown”
• March 8: Don Cyr and Lester Kwong
Professor of Finance, Operations and Information Systems and Associate Professor of Economics, Brock University
“The application of copula function modelling to Bordeaux en primeur wine ratings”
• March 15: Tony Shaw, Professor of Geography, Brock University
“Climate change and the evolution of Canada’s wine appellations and emerging areas: Challenges and benefits”
• March 22: Jim Willwerth, CCOVI Viticulturist, Brock University
“The potential impact of climate change on grapevine dormancy and cold hardiness”
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• April 5: Gary Pickering, Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University
“Proselytizing pyrazines: How to avoid and remediate greeness in wine”
• April 12: Andrew Reynolds, Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University
“Opportunities for remote sensing by unmanned aerial vehicles to map variability in Ontario vineyards”
• April 26: Tom Lowery, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
“Epidemiology and management of grapevine virus diseases”
For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
* Kaitlyn Little, Marketing and Communications Officer, Brock University, klittle@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x4471
* Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970
