Anita Oberholster completed her PhD in wine sciences at the University of Adelaide, Australia in 2008. She moved to the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, California as a Cooperative Extension Specialist in 2011, from her role as researcher at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University. In her current position she focuses on continued education for the grape and wine industry while her research program concentrates on current issues in the grape and wine industry. Research include the impact of climate on grape ripening and phenolic development, grapevine red blotch disease and smoke exposure in the vineyard. The impact of different winemaking techniques on wine composition and quality is also a major focus.
Doing Even More, with Even Less
Doing Even More, with Even Less
These past years have shown the ability of winegrowers to adapt and persevere. Evidenced by an age where competition and availability for water is at an all-time high, vintners and viticulturists must find creative solutions to an increasingly difficult situation. This program focuses on doing more with even less of this precious resource. The program will investigate the impacts and mitigation of irrigating with water of challenging quality, utilization of desalinated water in the agricultural sector, as well as the impacts and feasibility of recycling winery wastewater back into the vineyard.
*Session receives 1 CEU: Integrated Pest
Speakers
Clinton Nelson
Organization:
Bonterra Organic Estates, California
Working as the Sr. Director of Vineyards and Grower Relations for Bonterra Organic Estates, formerly Fetzer Vineyards, I have helped cultivate a focus on precision viticulture, regenerative organics, and water conservation across our northern California Estate Vineyards, in addition to other premium winegrape growing regions across California. The mission is simple, we must be part of the solution to the climate crisis – not a contributor to the causes. Educational background, BSc Biology and MSc Viticulture/Enology, in concert with applied experience in winegrape research, education, outreach and management have afforded me a unique and advantageous perspective to creating practical and sustainable solutions.
Mark Battany
Organization:
University of California Cooperative Extension, San Luis Obispo County
Mark grew up in Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Agronomy and a minor in Spanish. He continued with graduate work at UC Davis with an M.S. in Hydrologic Sciences. He was an exchange scholar at a Spanish government research center in Cordoba, Spain studying runoff and erosion in hillside olive groves. He began working for UC Cooperative Extension in 2001, initially as a Viticulture Farm Advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties; in 2018 his title changed to Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor.
Anita Oberholster
Organization:
University of California, Davis
Francisco Pedrero Salcedo
Organization:
CEBAS-CSIC, Spain
Dr., Agricultural Engineer, Scientist at the Irrigation Department at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain). I have worked for the last 15 years on the use of non-conventional water resources in agriculture. I collaborate as External Consultant with FAO as Water Quality Consultant being Editor of the guide “Water Quality in Agriculture: Risks and Risks Mitigations” and as collaborator in the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture in a Changing Climate (WASAG)’s Saline Agriculture Working Group. Actually, Main Coordinator of PRIMA project “Smart Agriculture Optimization to Climate Change Adaptation (CICLICA)”.
Joel A. Miller
Organization:
ChateauHR LLC, California
Mr. Miller brings a unique set of talents honed in senior executive roles in Human Resources, Operations, and Strategic Planning. His broad experience across different industries, continents, and functions focuses on pragmatic high-quality execution – keep it simple, deliver top-notch results, and build a foundation for long-term success. From start-ups to large global firms, he relishes opportunities to help businesses grow. He is also a master of organization re-engineering, morphing teams and people systems to deliver improved profitability.
Owner/Principal at ChateauHR LLC
Past experience includes:
- Jackson Family Wines (Chief People Officer)
- Procter & Gamble (International HR, Sales, & Manufacturing)
- Guitar Center (EVP Human Resources)
- Newegg.com (Chief People Officer)
- Interim SVP HR (Blue Diamond Growers, CannaCraft, Santa Rosa Community Health)
Mr. Miller holds a BS Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is married with two daughters, all residing in Healdsburg CA. He is an avid hiker and cyclist, often found exploring the back trails of northern California. Mr. Miller also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Sonoma State University, teaching in the Executive MBA program and Wine Business Institute.