First International Cabernet Symposium Is Set

Daylong professional session to follow regular agenda for ASEV meeting in Napa
 
Napa, Calif. -- The annual meeting of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture will feature a number of firsts when it convenes June 23-26 in Napa. For one thing, it will be the first time in the event's 60-year history that Napa Valley has hosted. For another, it will mark the inaugural International Cabernet Symposium on June 26, after other annual meeting activities have concluded. Two other full-day symposia, on rootstocks and high-Brix winemaking, are also on the agenda.

Grapegrowers and winemakers who want to take advantage of the event's discount on lodging have until May 21 to book their rooms at one of the three hotels hosting various sessions: the Marriott Napa Valley, Meritage Resort Napa and Embassy Suites Napa Valley. Discount registration rates for the meeting itself and related symposia are available through June 12.

At the International Cabernet Symposium, nine speakers from Bordeaux, California, Australia and Oregon will discuss their practices, creative ideas and concerns regarding the growing, crafting and aging of wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Headlining winemakers include Californians Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards, Tod Mostero of Dominus Estate and Frederick Ammons of The Napa Valley Reserve; Tony Soter of Oregon, and Kees van Leeuwen of Chateau Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux. 

 Dr. Christian Butzke of Purdue University, Indiana, who previously has chaired five meetings of the Joint Burgundy - California - Oregon Winemaking Symposium, will co-moderate the 9 a.m.-5 p.m. session with ASEV president Michael Silacci of Opus One winery in Napa Valley. Butzke said, "Having the ASEV Annual Meeting in Napa Valley for the first time in 60 years, this being one (or rather several) of the world's greatest Cabernet terroirs, and having the winemaker for Opus One as ASEV president, made this a very natural choice for a special symposium."

Butzke added, "This discussion is complemented by the most advanced information about the future of current and up-and-coming Cab-growing areas under the forces of substantial climate shift--a re-drawing of Amerine and Winkler's map from the 1930s. Legends of the '76 Paris tasting like George Taber (Time magazine) and Paul Draper will put the whole topic into historic perspective, and a subsequent multi-AVA tasting will show that the proof is, as always, in the glass."

Managing Cabernet under water deficits is the topic for Xavier Chone, a French terroir consultant. Van Leeuwen of Cheval Blanc, where Cabernet Franc is dominant, discusses this grape variety's characteristics, clonal variability and best management practices. Eveline Bartowsky from the Australian Wine Research Institute covers the sensory effects of wine microflora on Cabernet Sauvignon. Climate-change expert Gregory Jones of Southern Oregon University asks, "Is There an Ideal Climate for Cabernet?"

In mid-afternoon, symposium attendees will taste Napa Valley Cabernet wines, followed by a roundtable discussion. Butzke said he expects about 200 wine professionals to attend. "A symposium about the 'King of Wine,' listening to and questioning the top producers and scientists in the business, and tasting some of their wines is as good as it gets, I hope." For other details on the symposium, meeting lodging and meeting registration, see the ASEV website, http://asev.org/annual-meeting/.