Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rain, snow move Jackson County away from drought; more in the forecast ... Man arrested in connection with Murphy homicide ... Aid available for renters, first-time home buyers, but more needs to be done, advocates say ... Rain, snow move Jackson County away from drought; more in the forecast ... Man arrested in connection with Murphy homicide ... Aid available for renters, first-time home buyers, but more needs to be done, advocates say ... 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 A Southern Oregon University professor and climatologist has joined Joseph Gallo, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Bollinger chief Ghislain de Montgolfier on a list of the 50 most influential people in the world of wine. Comment By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Jun. 4, 2009 at 12:01 AM By JOHN DARLING Posted Jun. 4, 2009 at 12:01 AM » Social News A Southern Oregon University professor and climatologist has joined Joseph Gallo, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Bollinger chief Ghislain de Montgolfier on a list of the 50 most influential people in the world of wine. Greg Jones, an SOU professor for 12 years — and son of the founder of Abacela Vineyards and Winery in Roseburg — has pioneered the marriage of climatology and viticulture in Oregon and globally, making possible an understanding of the looming effects of climate change on the industry. The Power List, to be published by Decanter Magazine this month, places Jones at No. 33, a recognition Jones called "humbling." Members of the list are chosen by international wine critics, merchants and wine insiders, Jones said. Jones said after his father, Earl, a retired physician, created the winery, he asked his son to join him and to gather data to predict growing times and varietals that would match the state's many climates. Jones petitioned the federal government for new and more specific appellations or names of geographical grape-growing areas for the Rogue and Umpqua valleys and for Southern Oregon and set up a network of 29 reference vineyards in the Rogue Valley, which are monitored to provide data for the industry. Jones also contributed to the report of the International Panel on Climate Change, which, along with former Vice President Al Gore, was given the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. The IPCC scientifically established the connection between human activity and climate change, which, until then, had been denied in many quarters. "I've had people say wine studies are superfluous and don't matter to society," Jones said. "Al Gore may have popularized global warming but people say it (the predictions of wine's future in a warmer world) may have greater impact. They bring the topic home and people understand it better." Jones conducts applied research for the grape and wine industry in Oregon, has given hundreds of presentations on wine-related research in Oregon and all over the world and is the author of many journal and magazine articles, with two books in the works — on Oregon's terroir (soil, culture, climate and everything else that can affect a grape) and on climate and grapes. "His contributions (to viticulture) are very foundational to our understanding the climate we're working in," said Harry Peterson-Nedry, owner of Chehalem Winery in Newberg. "We thought we knew it but he added a great deal of technical insight and he has an interest in the wine business. That's driven some of his passion. He's able to put across difficult concepts." Jones built on global-warming data to spell out implications for the future of Oregon wines, noted Peterson-Nedry, "and how varietal change is going to have to happen, as well as shifts to higher elevations for growing." Dick Ellis, owner of Pebblestone Vineyards west of Phoenix, said Jones' data on terroir and "growing degree days" have laid a baseline for grape growers, telling them clearly what will grow now and what will grow in warmer times. Jones' research and data have helped Southern Oregon wines branch out into a broad array of varietals to match the region's many micro-climates, but he predicts a winnowing to fewer than 10 varietals in the coming decade or two. His global-warming research points to a 1- to 3-degree increase in temperatures, which also would greatly exacerbate water supply issues. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Jun. 4, 2009 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501