The American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s (ASEV) 65th annual National Conference is being held in conjunction with the ASEV Eastern Section’s 39th Annual Meeting from June 23 through 27 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas. Known for its food and music, Austin offers those attending the conference a taste of the southwestern vibe while meeting with leading researchers, growers and vintners from around the world to discuss current issues and science shaping the industry.

The conference will feature over 160 research reports presented in oral and poster sessions, as well as two symposia: Water Use/Efficiency on Tuesday and Winemaking for Challenging Environments on Friday. Some of the key highlights of the week are:

• A Texas winery and vineyard tour
• ASEV Eastern Section’s Oenolympics featuring a competition between student teams and the “Wine of the East” reception
• Six Industry Seminars organized to focus on the fundamentals of grapegrowing and winemaking

​Each year, member contributions and students’ achievements are recognized during the conference. This year, the ASEV Merit Award will be presented to long-time ASEV Journal Science Editor Dr. Linda Bisson of the University of California, Davis. Dr. Bisson will be recognized for her significant contributions to the Society and the wine and grape industry on Thursday, June 26. New this year will be the presentation of the first ASEV Extension Distinction Award with recognition of Dr. Terry Bates of Cornell University. AJEV will honor their Best Papers Award recipients, and the Eastern Section chapter will present a Lifetime Achievement Award. Lastly, both the Eastern Section and the national organization will be presenting the Best Student Presentation Awards and scholarships to the next generation of industry players.

To learn more about the ASEV National Conference and register, visit http://www.asev.org/2014-national-conference. For a full breakdown of the week’s schedule, click here.