Dr. James A. Wolpert

Cooperative Extension Viticulture Specialist

Ph.D., Horticulture, Michigan State University, 1983
M.S., Horticulture, Michigan State University, 1978
B.S., Horticulture, Purdue University, 1973

Office: 2146 RMI North Building
Phone: 530-754-6245
Fax: 530-752-0382
Email: jawolpert@ucdavis.edu

Dr. Wolpert joined the Department of Viticulture and Enology in 1985. As an Extension Specialist, he is responsible for applied research and grower education programs for northern California. He has two focal points to his research: evaluation of winegrape clones and evaluation of rootstocks. Both are critical decisions in vineyard establishment. His work in rootstock evaluation throughout northern and coastal California has provided the basis for grower recommendations for a range of soil types. Clone selection decisions are complex and involve marketplace targets, "wine quality," and other subjective considerations. His current evaluations of clones of Chardonnay and Pinot noir for sparkling wine, as well as Merlot, Malbec and Zinfandel, in addition to previous work, have given growers some insight into making those difficult decisions. Over the past decade, Dr. Wolpert, with several UC farm advisors and emeritus specialist A. Kasimatis have identified and collected selections of Zinfandel from old vineyards, many dating to the end of the 19th century or early 20th century. The project has two goals: 1) conserving potentially valuable selections that are at risk from economic pressures to replant to newer, more productive vineyards, and 2) identifying selections with better winemaking attributes (better color and varietal character, and looser, less rot-prone clusters). The Zinfandel Heritage Vineyard at the department's vineyard in Oakville (Napa Valley) is now comprised of 84 selections, representing 52 vineyards from 14 counties throughout California and contains an unreplicated "library" of selections. In cooperation with Dr. Susan Ustin at the Center for Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing, Dr. Wolpert also completed a project in 2001 that investigated how remote sensing data related to measurements of vine canopy .