Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/210765
UNIFIED PREVIEW blend. "It's a trend that is happening with a number of new blends that are on the market, and they're doing well," Frey said. The moderator and panel for the session were not confirmed at press time, but Frey said the 2 p.m. session Jan. 28 features a tasting of blended wines. Unified's tasting session typically has been held on the last day of the symposium. Frey said the session will focus on the popularity of red blends and how they depart from varietal-focused wines, which have dominated the American market since the 1970s. He said speakers will include winemakers and vineyard managers, and he's hoping to bring in a winemaker from the eastern United States—or at least from outside California. "I think that's something that's emerged in the past couple of years and caught everyone's attention," he said. One unfortunate trend that has caught the industry's attention is the emergence of red blotch disease in vineyards from several different growing regions throughout the United States. The sickness and the associated red blotch virus, GRBaV, will be covered in a breakout session at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 29. Alison Crowe, director of winemaking and partner of Plata Wine Partners in Napa, Calif., will lead a discussion about current red blotch research as well as identifying and coping with the disorder. Joining Crowe in the session will be Pete Opatz, vice president and senior viticulturist for Silverado Premium Properties in Napa, and Lise Asimont, the director of grower relations at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, Calif. Red blotch was first identified in the Napa Valley in 2008. The disease symptoms generally appear in August through September as irregular blotches on leaf blades or basal portions of shoots. In February, researchers announced they had identified the virus, known as GRBaV, Unified 2014 organizers Equipment tour leader Speakers at "Red Blotch for Winemakers" session State of the Industry Lyndie Bolton Charles "Chik" Brenneman Alison Crowe Michael Veseth Nick Frey 42 W in es & V i ne s D EC E M be r 20 13 Pete Opatz Lise Asimont