Fresno Faces Changes

Budget cuts and retiring staff challenge thriving viticulture/enology program
 
 
Fresno, Calif. -- While the University of California at Davis is world famous for its enology and viticulture programs and research, California State University, Fresno (still affectionately known as Fresno State) has a reputation within the industry for producing excellent practical winemakers and viticulturists. That reputation could be challenged by funding cuts due to California's--and the world's--economic troubles.

These pressures come at a time when a number of faculty members are leaving. Most notably, the face of Fresno's wine programs is retiring this summer. Respected Dr. Robert L. Wample, the Julio Gallo director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center and chairman of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the university, says it's time for him to retire after nine years as director of the program.

"I turn 65 in August, and we need a new director who can chart the course for the next eight to 10 years," Wample says. "I wouldn't want to impose my plans on anyone." Wample looks forward to returning to Washington state, where he expects to be involved in the wine business.

Coincident with this move, the E. & J. Gallo support that has funded his position for the last 10 years ended in 2007. Gallo spokesman and graduate of the Fresno wine program, John Segale, notes that E. & J. Gallo has long supported Fresno State's enology and viticultural programs, including establishing and contributing to the Julio R. Gallo director's chair at the school. "That was a specific 10-year pledge that ended in 2007. The company still supports the school and is involved with the program." Segale adds that Jim Coleman of the Gallo family is currently on the board of directors of the school's Viticulture and Enology Research Center.

To rumors that Gallo had shifted support to new UC Merced closer to home, Segale says no. "The company annually donates to that school, which is totally unrelated to any ongoing support at Fresno State."
 
Viticulture professor Dr. Sayed Badre will retire at the end of 2009.In other personnel news, professor of viticulture Dr. Sayed Badr will retire in December. Wample says that under the current budgetary problems, the school is unsure about his replacement at this time.

Also, Kenneth C. Fugelsang, associate professor of enology and winemaster, plans to retire at the end of 2010. Another senior academic is rumored to be retiring in the next few years, too.

In a more positive move, Dr. S. Kaan Kurtural, a viticulture researcher and instructor from the University of Kentucky, joined the Department of Viticulture and Enology as the inaugural Bronco Wine Co. viticulture chair last year.

Wample says that Gallo has reduced support for faculty positions, presumably at all locations, but has offered research support and is continuing discussions with the university. He adds that, in addition to Bronco, other members of the industry are offering, but says he can't discuss these in detail at the moment.

The university's role is important not just in training future winemakers and growers, but as a critical supporter of the huge Central Valley grape and wine business. "The San Joaquin Valley is and will continue to be an important source of fruit for the U.S. wine industry. It is also the source of 95% of the table grape production and 99% of the raisin production. We are clearly the best positioned institution to address these industries' needs," Wample says. 
 
 
Kenneth Fuglesang, associate professor of enology and winemaster, plans to retire at the end of 2010.The department has a unique combination of resources: "We are also the only institution in the world with the combination of facilities at our disposal on the campus, i.e., we have 160 acres of vineyard (approximately 50:50 table/raisin : winegrapes), a raisin-processing facility and a 50,000-gallon bonded winery."

UC Davis is only now starting to build a modern, bonded winery for student use, as well as demonstration and teaching vineyards at the new Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food. Community colleges in Santa Rosa and Napa, Calif., and Walla Walla, Wash., have wineries and vineyards, too.

Wample says that his department has made huge strides in the last nine years. "Now that we have made the transition to a fully operational academic department and increased our research efforts, I think this is a great opportunity for some young faculty/scientists who really want to get involved in these diverse aspects of grape and wine production. The university has made it clear that it sees this as one of its key programs, and I anticipate there will be ongoing support, although we will experience some difficulties just like every other department due to budget problems." 
 
Dr. Robert Wample, long-time chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology, shown here with some of his students, will retire this summer.

He adds that the department just finished its "five-year" program review. "Although there are some concerns about the size of our graduate program, our undergraduate program was give very high marks for quality as well as enrollment levels," Wample says. "Are these hard times? Yes. But we are looking at this as a set of opportunities, and expect things will get better."

Both those in the industry and Wample's colleagues agree. "The Fresno program has a good track record of producing very talented students," notes Liz Thach, who teaches many of them about the business side of wine at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.