North America strengthens wine research and development

Investment into the research, development and education of wine has taken a significant leap forward in North America following the launch of two new wine initiatives.

In San Francisco, a new Wine Centre for Wine Education and Events opens this weekend, while in Canada, the creation of a grape and wine research centre network has linked research institutions from opposite sides of the country.

In Ontario, Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute has joined forces with the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in British Columbia to form the PARC-CCOVI Wine Grape Research network.

The creation of the network is thought to advance Canada’s growing wine industry, and enhances the federal government’s support of the trade thanks to its recent funding contriubtion through its Developing Innovative Agri-Products Programme.

Speaking of the PARC-CCOVI Wine Grape Research, Pat Bowen at PARC said to Wines & Vines: "This agreement is a first for Canada and will strengthen cooperation between researchers in Ontario and British Columbia, which in turn will advance the grape and wine industry.”

Founders of the network hope that the network will soon include other provinces, such as Nova Scotia.

Meanwhile in California, San Francisco’s first ever full-time wine centre will open this weekend.

The San Francisco Wine Centre will provide a facility for events and wine education. Classes at the centre will cover a range of topics from regional analysis to designing your dream cellar.

The centre has appointed Catherine Falls as its director of education, one of the few female master sommeliers in the world.

The launch of the Californian centre comes hot on the heels of the closure of COPIA in Napa, which once had designs on opening a second branch in San Francisco, according to winebusiness.com.

For the full low-down on California, read the drinks business‘ California Report, which comes out next month.

Jane Parkinson, 14.04.10