This is the seventh in a series of courses to focus on the viticultural side

of select wine grape varieties.  In this one day series of lectures, we will

focus on the grape Sauvignon blanc. This aromatic variety from the Bordeaux

and Loire Valley regions of France produces some of the world's most

distinctive dry white wines and is an ingredient in the great sweet white

wines of Sauternes. Lectures will include information on the origin of

Sauvignon blanc; its history in France and the New World; the importance,

development and selection of clones; and the role of Sauvignon blanc in the

wines of France and regional wines from other areas, particularly

California.  The lectures will be provided by a talented group of guest

speakers, including Phil Freese, viticultural consultant and winemaker in

Sonoma County, California and South Africa; Deborah Golino, Director of

Foundation Plant Services, UC Davis; Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative

Extension Director for Mendocino and Lake Counties; John Buechsenstein,

winemaker in Napa and other regions of the California coast and wine

educator for more than 30 years; and Jean-Michel Boursiquot, world renowned

ampellographer and viticulturalist at ENTAV-INRA in France.  We hope this

program will increase awareness of the clonal diversity and winemaking

potential of this established variety.