The 2nd annual Viticultural Research Roadshow and Educational Wine Tasting Event will be held June 18, in Fresno, Calif., at the Armenian Community Center.

The event allows researchers from the University of California (UC) Davis, UC Kearney, UC Cooperative Extension, and Fresno State to provide viticulture findings with grape growers in the San Joaquin Valley.

Tentative agenda:

• 1:00 p.m. – Mechanized canopy management and reduced deficit irrigation - S. Kaan Kurtural, California State University (CSU), Fresno;

– Clonal recommendations for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Barbera, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel in the San Joaquin Valley - Matthew Fidelibus, UC Kearney;

– Evaluating wine grape varieties for the San Joaquin Valley: Are we looking for 'the needle in a haystack?’ - James Wolpert, UC Davis;

– Validation of dual heat pulse sap flow measurements on large grapevines growing in a weighing lysimeter - Andrew McElrone, UC Davis;

– Best management practices for herbicides - Kurt Hembree, UC Cooperative Extension;

– Vine mealy bug management - Walt Bentley, UC Kearney;

– Recommendations for the future - Robert Wample, CSU Fresno.

Dr. Robert Wample, the retiring director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at CSU, Fresno, will be honored for his work in the industry.

An educational wine tasting and reception will follow at 5:00 p.m. California wine will be blindly tasted along side its retail price-point competition from other regions of the world. This will give growers the opportunity to taste their product and see how it stacks up against others, and talk about ways for improvement.

Registration costs are $10 for San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association members, $25 for non-members, and $40 at the door.

The registration form is available online at www.idrinkwine.net.

For more information, call (559) 354-1409.