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A UGUS T NEWS Jerry Lohr Wants Research Revolution California vintner asks enology and viticulture professionals to volunteer their skills M onterey, Calif.—Like a preacher delivering a sermon and then passing the collection plate, Cali- fornia vintner Jerry Lohr exhorted sev- eral hundred colleagues to think collec- tively, act cooperatively and invest more in research for the American wine indus- try as a whole. Then he good-naturedly leaned on them to sign and turn in 3-by- 5-inch cards specifying what they will do to help the cause, even ordering his sons, Lawrence and Steve Lohr, to stand guard at the door and collect the cards as people filed out after his speech. Lohr had the lectern because the Ameri- can Society for Enology and Viticulture honored him with its Merit Award for career service during its 62nd national conference in Monterey. The founder of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, based in San Jose, Calif., called for a "research revolu- tion" similar to that accomplished by the Australian wine industry in recent de- cades, which would benefit all American vineyards and wineries and uncover solu- tions to impel American wine production and sales forward. The tall, 74-year- old entrepreneur— who was trained as a civil engineer, be- came a custom-home builder and created a wine company that now encompasses 3,000 acres of vines from Paso Robles to Monterey to Napa Valley and pro- duces 1 million cases annually—urged the listening grapegrowers, winemakers, professors and students to communicate and collaborate more effectively. Lohr stressed that even though Cali- winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Lohr revolution." The American Society for Enology and viticulture honored Jerry Lohr with its Merit Award for career service. fornia produces the great majority of American wine, the research revolution should encompass Washington, Or- egon, New York, Virginia and all the states in between. "We need a national vision," Lohr said. "We're already on our way." —Jim Gordon 18 Wines & Vines AUGUsT 201 1