ASEV is pleased to announce the 2016 Extension Distinction Award recipient, Dr. Bruce Zoecklein of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. His presentation will be given this June at the 67th National Conference in Monterey, California.

This honor recognizes a current extension educator for outstanding contribution to an extension program or the advanced translation of novel research findings into commercially applicable tools for enologists or viticulturists.

Dr. Zoecklein is currently the research coordinator for Applied Research Cooperative (ARC), a federation of wineries in California, Oregon and Washington, conducting science-based applied research. He’s the former head of the Enology-Grape Chemistry Group at Virginia Tech and editor of Winery Planning and Design and Enology Notes, a technical brief with more than 3,500 subscribers that discusses practical grapegrowing and winemaking issues. He is a co-author of Wine Analysis and Production and a certified auditor for the Wine Institute’s Sustainable Winegrower’s Alliance.

Dr. Zoecklein taught enology at California State University, Fresno, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. As head of the Enology-Grape Chemistry Group, he conducted research, extension, classroom and graduate student education, and oversaw the creation of a commercial analytical laboratory service for the wine industry.

His research interests include grape-derived aroma and flavor compounds.  Following his retirement from Virginia Tech, he was rehired to continue his research.