An International Wine Microbiology Symposium hosted by California State University, Fresno will attract worldwide experts on winemaking and microbiology Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4-5, to the Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite National Park.

Fresno State’s own wine microbiologists Drs. Roy Thornton and Susan Rodriguez, and Winemaster Ken Fugelsang of the Viticulture and Enology Department, organized the symposium with such industry giants as:

• Dr. Sakkie Pretorius of the Australian Wine Research Institute

• Dr. Aline Lonvaud-Funel from the University Victor Segalen Bordeaux in France

• Dr. Vladimir Jiranek or the University of Adelaide

• Dr. Daniel Granes from the Institute Cooperatif du Vin in France

• Dr. Peter Sommer from Chr. Hansen in Denmark.

• Dr. Linda Bisson from the University of California, Davis.

More than 150 winery principals, winemakers, enologists, educators and students are expected for this event sponsored by Fresno State’s Viticulture and Enology Research Center and Department of Viticulture and Enology and several private companies.

Thornton said authorities will present perspectives on the importance of microbiology in winemaking, with topics ranging from traditional issues to emerging technology.

The organizing committee has worked hard for over a year, now, to maintain a balance on the program that represents yeast producers, service industries, researchers and winemakers,” said Thornton. He is, an enology professor at Fresno State who serves on the organizing committee with Rodriguez, a research fellow at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center, and with enology professor Fugelsang.

“We believe that programs such as this play a crucial role in the continuing education of our winemakers,” said Thornton.

Rodriguez added that the presentations “will offer an exceptional balance of research based and practical information.”

Previous educational events for the wine industry include the Barrel Symposium held on the Fresno State campus (2002), the Wine and Juice Production Workshop held in Virginia (1997) and the Wine Spoilage Microbiology Conference on campus (1996). held on the Fresno State campus in 1996.

Technical presentations, panel discussions, an educational wine tasting and a Fresno State wine reception are among the program activities.

Several industry sponsors who offer products and services to the grape and wine industry worldwide have provided support to the symposium. “We are very proud to have so many sponsors support this event, which has enabled us to bring in the best experts from several countries and continents,” said Fugelsang.

Attendees will have an opportunity to network with representatives during symposium activities, including a sponsor reception at the conclusion of the sessions on April 4.

Registration and sponsor exhibits are scheduled to begin daily at 7:30 a.m., a half-hour before the start of the program, which will end at 5 p.m. each day.

The general registration fee through April 3 is $600 per person. On-site registration is $700. Checks, Visa or MasterCard are accepted.

Online registration forms, program details and presenter abstracts are at the International Wine Microbiology link on the Department of Viticulture and Enology’s Web site, cast.csufresno.edu/ve, or call 559.278.2089.

The Viticulture and Enology Research Center is one of four research centers within the California Agricultural Technology Institute and College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State. The Department of Viticulture and Enology is one of seven academic departments within the college.

For more information on the research center, visit cati.csufresno.edu/verc. For more information on Fresno State academic offerings in viticulture and enology, call Dr. Robert Wample, department chair, at 559.278.2089 or visit cast.csufresno.edu/ve.

Sponsor list, program and presenter bios and abstracts are available online at www.FresnoStateNews.com.