News Release 07-126-A

“Establishing a Vineyard”

A few openings remain for 2nd UCC program: Design

	News Release 07-126-A	For more information:
	Release date: 04/03/08	Bentley Gilbert
	For immediate release	(541) 440-7747
	http://www.umpqua.edu/ 

Roseburg— A few openings are available for the second of Umpqua Community College’s popular weekend programs on “Establishing a Vineyard” on Friday evening, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. The topic this time is “Preparing and Designing a Vineyard.”

Those wishing to register for April’s class and a third one in May on “Preparing and Planting the Vineyard,” should phone the registrar’s office at the College soon at 440-4604 to be assured of having a seat. Each weekend’s program consists of classroom instruction and practical training in a local vineyard.

Last month, this program of the College’s Southern Oregon Wine Institute, “Situating the Vineyard, Irrigation, Pruning and Training Techniques,” was oversubscribed and some interested persons had to be turned away even after the size of the class was expanded.

“The one coming up (on April 11 and 12) has key information for anyone interested in planting a vineyard,” said Jim Delfino of Delfino Vineyards, who worked with the College to design these programs. “It’s a good one.”

The whole series provides solid, practical instruction in establishing a vineyard by noted winemakers and design, climate, irrigation, soil and agricultural experts.

In the preparing and designing a vineyard on April 11 and 12, those taking the class will hear from Alex Cabrera and Earl Jones of the Abacela Vineyards and Luke Pedotti of the Vineyard Development Company. Such topics as row orientation, length and spacing, trellising decisions, layout of the vineyard, soil nutrition and more will be covered on Friday evening at UCC’s Campus Center and Saturday in the Abacela Vineyard.

On Friday evening (April 11), the UCC Bookstore will be open until 6 pm for those needing to purchase the text for the class, “Oregon Viticulture,” edited by Edward W. Hellman, OSU Press. Additionally, the Bookstore also will have a table in the UCC Campus Center for people to purchase Southern Oregon Wine Institute hats, shirts, vests and other memorabilia. The textbook and SOWI items are also available at the Bookstore during normal business hours.

Friday evening begins with one of the experts who speaks and takes students’ questions. All day Saturday will be at Abacela Vineyards (12500 Lookingglass Road).

In the fall of 2008, the Southern Oregon Wine Institute at UCC is launching its two-year degree program in viticulture and enology. In this ongoing associate degree program, students will study such subjects as soil, plant nutrition and irrigation; sensory evaluation of wine, vineyard practices and pest control, wines of the world, laboratory analysis of musts and wines, the science of winemaking, wines of the Pacific Region and wine marketing, as well as required courses in chemistry, Spanish, and cooperative work experience in local vineyards and wineries.

The degree program, the weekend programs and the community education classes at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute at UCC are good places for people in the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys to learn about other events for wine maskers, wine lovers and the “wine curious.” A series food and wine paring UCC community education classes, for example, have just begun at Aromatica’s Feast. Another pairing in this series, gewürztraminer and merlot, is scheduled for April 15. A second series will be held in June. Phone the UCC community education department at 440-7744 to register or 440-7651 for more details. Separately, a one-day workshop by the OSU Extension Office entitled “When Good Wine Goes Bad,” is scheduled in Douglas County for April 23.