Gregory V. Jones

Last updated
Gregory V. Jones
Born1959 (age 6364)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationChief Executive Officer
Known forClimatology, Viticulture, Wine: Research on grape growing and wine production
Board member ofReview Editor, Climate Research, 2004-- ; Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Wine Economics, 2006-- ; Editorial Board, International Journal of Wine Research, 2008-- ; Editorial Advisory Board, International Journal of Biometeorology, 2012-- ; Erath Family Foundation, 2010--
Academic background
EducationUniversity of Virginia
Thesis Synoptic Climatological Assessment of Viticultural Phenology (1998)

Gregory V. Jones is an American research climatologist specializing in the climatology of viticulture, with a focus on how climate variation influences vine growth, wine production, and the quality of wine produced. Jones serves as the CEO of Abacela Vineyards and Winery [1] in Roseburg, Oregon. Previously he served as the Director of the Center for Wine Education and is Professor of Environmental Studies at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon and as the Director of the Division of Business, Communication and the Environment at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon and was Professor in the University's Environmental Science and Policy Program.

Contents

Background

Gregory V. Jones (born 1959 in Murray, Kentucky) obtained a BA (1993) and Ph.D. (1998) in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in the Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Virginia Department of Environmental Sciences.[ citation needed ] His dissertation described research in Bordeaux, France on the climatology of viticulture investigating the spatial differences in grapevine phenology, grape composition and yield, and how these are related to wine quality. [2] Jones is best known for his research in climatology, meteorology, agriculture and hydrology; the phenology of plant systems; the interaction between biosphere and atmosphere; weather patterns and climate change; and quantitative methods in spatial and temporal analysis. [3]

Jones has been invited to speak on climate and wine-related research at hundreds of regional, national and international conferences, and is a well-known applied research consultant to the grape and wine industry in Oregon. In 2014, Jones participated in a panel, A New World of Wine: How the Viticultural Map is Changing at the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine's 8th annual conference in Florence, Italy. [4] Jones is a regular presenter at the biennial International Terroir Congress, most recently at the Xth International Terroir Congress in Tokaj-Eger, Hungary. As organizer in 2016, Jones brings the XIth International Terroir Congress to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. [5]

Research

Jones' research focuses on the role of climate in the structure and characteristics of agricultural systems. As such he is interested in how climate influences whether a crop is suitable to a given region, how climate controls crop production and quality, and ultimately drives economic sustainability. His main focus on climate's influence on agribusinesses is in viticulture and wine production where the climate is arguably the most critical aspect in ripening fruit to optimum characteristics to produce a given wine style. Jones examines climate's role in growing wine grapes and wine production from a holistic perspective trying to understand 1) the weather and climate structure necessary for optimum quality and production characteristics, 2) the climate suitability to different wine grape cultivars, 3) the climate's variability in wine-producing regions, and 4) the influence of climate change on the structure, suitability, and variability of climate. [6]

Jones' research has been described and his expertise noted in wine trade publications and websites including: Wine & Spirits magazine (May 2015), [7] The Oregonian newspaper (May 2015), [8] Southern Oregon Wine Scene Magazine (Summer 2015), [9] Great Northwest Wine (April 2015), [10] Slate.com (December 2014), [11] Vine2Wine (March 2014), [12] Wine-Searcher (November 2013), [13] Willamette Week newspaper (September 2013), [14] Wines and Vines magazine (November 2012), [15] and the Mail Tribune newspaper (June 2009). [16]

Honors and awards

In 2016, Jones was named Honorary Confrade with the Rank of Infanção (Nobleman) by the Confraria do Vinho do Porto for his work with the Portuguese wine industry. [17]

Jones was included as one of Wine Business Monthly's Top 50 Wine Industry Leaders for 2016 [18] and 2017. [19]

In 1998 and 2004 Jones was awarded a Prix Local by the Vineyard Data Quantification Society, an international organization of economists in service to vine and wine. [20]

Jones contributed to the 4th IPCC Assessment Report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. [21]

Decanter Magazine named Jones to its 2009 Power List, counting him among the top fifty influencers in the wine world, [22] and IntoWine.com included Jones in their top one hundred most influential people in the US wine industry in 2012 and 2013. [23]

Jones was also named Oregon Wine Press's 2009 Wine Person of the Year, [24] has been featured in the Linfield College History of Wine Archives, [25] and is included in the Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library's Wine of Southern Oregon Digital Archives. [26]

Selected publications

Jones is the author of numerous book chapters, reports, and journal articles covering topics of climate, soil, phenology, economics, and sustainability as they pertain to viticulture and wine production. Book contributions include chapters in:

Jones' writing has been published in major scientific journals. Selected publications are cited below.

Related Research Articles

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Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines, where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. From France and Spain, the grape spread across Europe and to the New World where it found new homes in places like California's Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Napa Valley, New Zealand's Hawke's Bay, South Africa's Stellenbosch region, Australia's Margaret River, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra regions, and Chile's Maipo Valley and Colchagua. For most of the 20th century, it was the world's most widely planted premium red wine grape until it was surpassed by Merlot in the 1990s. However, by 2015, Cabernet Sauvignon had once again become the most widely planted wine grape, with a total of 341,000 hectares (3,410 km2) under vine worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vineyard</span> Plantation of grape-bearing vines

A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards are often characterised by their terroir, a French term loosely translating as "a sense of place" that refers to the specific geographical and geological characteristics of grapevine plantations, which may be imparted to the wine itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauvignon blanc</span> Green-skinned grape variety

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the city of Bordeaux in France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. It is possibly a descendant of Savagnin. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. The grape is also a component of the famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, Chile, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, the states of Oregon, Washington, and California in the US. Some New World Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called "Fumé Blanc", a marketing term coined by Robert Mondavi in reference to Pouilly-Fumé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinot noir</span> Red wine grape variety

Pinot noir is a red-wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French words for pine and black. The word pine alludes to the grape variety having tightly clustered, pinecone–shaped bunches of fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viticulture</span> Cultivation and harvesting of grapes

Viticulture or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, ranges from Western Europe to the Persian shores of the Caspian Sea, the vine has demonstrated high levels of adaptability to new environments, hence viticulture can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

<i>Terroir</i> Factors affecting crops

Terroir is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop's specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character.

Biodynamic wines are wines made employing the biodynamic methods both to grow the fruit and during the post-harvest processing. Biodynamic wine production uses organic farming methods while also employing soil supplements prepared according to Rudolf Steiner's formulas, following a planting calendar that depends upon astrological configurations, and treating the earth as "a living and receptive organism."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrattonbully</span>

Wrattonbully is a wine region in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia's South East, between the Padthaway and Coonawarra regions, between the Riddoch Highway and the Victorian border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of wine</span> Overview of and topical guide to wine

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to wine

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington wine</span> Wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington

Washington wine is a wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine. By 2017, the state had over 55,000 acres (220 km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 229,000 short tons (208,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 940+ wineries located in the state. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, the majority (99.9%) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub-steppe eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours and consistent temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Valley AVA</span>

The Columbia Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area which lies in the Columbia River Plateau, through much of central and southern Washington State, with a small section crossing into the neighboring state of Oregon. The AVA includes the drainage basin of the Columbia River and its tributaries through much of Washington. Allen Shoup, president of Washington State's largest winery Chateau Ste. Michelle, understood the importance of obtaining appellation status for Washington State to grow the reputation of the vineyards. He hired Drs. Wade Wolfe and Walter Clore to petition the federal government for appellation status, a request that was granted in 1984. The Columbia Valley AVA is the largest wine region in the state of Washington, including over 11,000,000 acres (4,500,000 ha), of which over 50,000 acres (20,000 ha) are planted in vineyards. The Columbia Valley AVA includes 99% of the total vineyard area planted in the state of Washington. Grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon blanc. Concord grapes and other Vitis labrusca grapes are grown in the region as well. The unique climates of the area allow the Columbia Valley to produce wines that are very fruit-forward, like California wine, but which also retain some of the balance and structure of European wine.

The Winkler Index, sometimes known as the Winkler Scale or WinklerRegions, is a technique for classifying the climate of wine growing regions based on heat summation or growing degree-days. In the system, geographical areas are divided into five climate regions based on temperature converted to growing degree-days, and is commonly known as Regions I–V. The system was developed at the University of California, Davis by A. J. Winkler and Maynard Amerine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma County wine</span> Wine made in Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County wine is wine made in Sonoma County, California, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California wine</span> Wine made from grapes grown in California, United States

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This glossary of viticultural terms list some of terms and definitions involved in growing grapes for use in winemaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irrigation in viticulture</span> Process of applying extra water in the cultivation of grapevines

Irrigation in viticulture is the process of applying extra water in the cultivation of grapevines. It is considered both controversial and essential to wine production. In the physiology of the grapevine, the amount of available water affects photosynthesis and hence growth, as well as the development of grape berries. While climate and humidity play important roles, a typical grape vine needs 25-35 inches of water a year, occurring during the spring and summer months of the growing season, to avoid stress. A vine that does not receive the necessary amount of water will have its growth altered in a number of ways; some effects of water stress are considered desirable by wine grape growers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate categories in viticulture</span>

In viticulture, the climates of wine regions are categorised based on the overall characteristics of the area's climate during the growing season. While variations in macroclimate are acknowledged, the climates of most wine regions are categorised as being part of a Mediterranean, maritime or continental climate. The majority of the world's premium wine production takes place in one of these three climate categories in locations between the 30th parallel and 50th parallel in both the northern and southern hemisphere. While viticulture does exist in some tropical climates, most notably Brazil, the amount of quality wine production in those areas is so small that the climate effect has not been as extensively studied as other categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel Heights Vineyard</span>

Bethel Heights Vineyard is an Oregon winery in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1977 by twin brothers Ted and Terry Casteel, their wives Pat Dudley and Marilyn Webb, and Pat's sister Barbara Dudley, the vineyard was one of the earliest plantings in the Eola-Amity Hills region. A winery soon followed, with the first estate wines produced in 1984. Bethel Heights specializes in Pinot noir, offering several individual block and vineyard designated bottlings, but also produces wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and Gewürztraminer.

Abacela is an American winery estate owned by Earl and Hilda Jones that is located in the Umpqua Valley AVA. It was the first winery to commercially grow and produce wine from Spain's Noble Tempranillo grape in America's Pacific Northwest.

References

  1. "Abacela winery names Gregory Jones as its new CEO". oregonlive.org. The Oregonian. 23 July 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. Jones, Gregory V. (2000). "Climate Influences on Grapevine Phenology, Grape Composition, and Wine Production and Quality for Bordeaux, France". American Journal of Viticulture and Enology. 51 (3): 249–261. doi:10.5344/ajev.2000.51.3.249. S2CID   56106339.
  3. Eastman, Janet. "2009 Wine Person of the Year: Climatologist Greg Jones". OregonWinePress.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. Salin, Christophe; Vouillamoz, Dr. Jose; Jones, Professor Gregory V.; Cornelissen, Frank (2014). A New World of Wine: How the Viticultural Map is Changing (Masters of Wine Institute,8th, 2014: Session 3. Florence, Italy.
  5. Mitham, Peter (October 28, 2015). "Oregon to Host Terroir Congress International cadre of academics will share research and visit area vineyards". Wines & Vines. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. Jones, Gregory V. (2011). Climate, Grapes, and Wine: Structure and Suitability in a Variable and Changing Climate in Percy H. Dougherty, The Geography of Wine. Climate, Grapes, and Wine: Structure and Suitability in a Variable and Changing Climate: Springer. pp. 109–133. ISBN   978-9400704633.
  7. Darlington, David (May 18, 2015). "Accounting for Taste: What happened to Russian River Valley Pinot Noir?". Wine & Spirits . Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. Harbarger, Molly (May 23, 2015). "Pinot noir celebrates 50 years in Willamette Valley. Will there be 50 more?". The Oregonian . Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. Daspit, MJ (Summer 2015). "One COOL Conversation with Greg Jones". Southern Oregon Wine Scene Magazine. Jacksonville Review. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. Degerman, Eric (April 3, 2015). "Oregon wine climatologist Greg Jones speaks to scientists in Columbia Valley". Great Northwest Wine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  11. Miller, Carrie. "Pinot Noir Is Wine's Polar Bear: The opportunities and challenges that climate change presents to vintners". Slate.com . No. December 23, 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  12. Staff (March 14, 2014). "Climatologist Greg Jones Speaks at U of O on terroir". Vine2Wine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  13. Cole, Katherine (November 20, 2013). "Greg Jones Turns Up The Heat on Wine & Climate Change". Wine-Searcher. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  14. Staff (September 10, 2013). "Hotseat: The Third Degree A climatologist describes how global warming will alter the wine industry". Willamette Week. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  15. Tourney, Jon (November 13, 2012). "Conference Explores Science of Wine Terroir Speakers at U.C. Davis say science supports link between climate and wine quality, but not soil-minerality link". Wines & Vines. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  16. Darling, John (June 4, 2009). "SOU professor Greg Jones makes wine 'Power List' - Magazine puts him on its list for his studies into climate change's effect on the industry". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  17. Daspit, MJ (December 8, 2016). "Wine Honors for SOU's Greg Jones Reach Worldwide". Ashland Daily Tidings. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  18. "Top 50 Wine Industry Leaders". Wine Business Monthly. Wine Communications Group. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  19. "Top Wine Industry Leaders 2017". Wine Business Monthly. 2017.
  20. Ashenfelter, Orley; Greg Jones. "The Demand for Expert Opinion: Bordeaux Wine". Vineyard Data Quantification Society Oenometrics Prize: Prix d'Ajaccio, 1998. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  21. Field, C.B., L.D. Mortsch, M. Brklacich, D.L. Forbes, P. Kovacs, J.A. Patz, S.W. Running and M.J. Scott (2007). North America. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780521705974.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. Woodward, Guy (27 May 2009). "The Decanter Power List 2009 – Top 10, New Entries and Fallers". Decanter. Time Inc UK. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  23. Cervin, Michael. "The IntoWine.com 2nd Annual "Top 100 Most Influential People in the U.S. Wine Industry" – 2013". IntoWine.com. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  24. Eastman, Janet. "2009 Wine Person of the Year: Climatologist Greg Jones". OregonWinePress.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  25. Jones, Gregory V. "Oral History from the Linfield College History of Wine Archives". YouTube.com. Linfield College. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  26. Southern Oregon University Hannon Library. "Gregory V. Jones". Wine of Southern Oregon Digital Archives. Southern Oregon University. Retrieved 6 November 2015.