Summary: 

During his presentation, Dr Kennedy will explore the wonderful world of red wine tannins.  Crafting well-balanced, perfectly extracted red wine takes time to master.  Beginning in the vineyard and ending in your wine glass, he will explore this fascinating group of molecules and the factors that influence their perception.

Presenter: James Kennedy

James Kennedy is Professor and Chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology, and Director for the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Kennedy is most widely recognized for his research on improving our understanding of grape and wine tannin chemistry, with the primary goal being the improvement of red wine astringency quality. Dr. Kennedy has published extensively as an author or co-author in peer-reviewed journals, grape and wine industry publications, and proceedings. He has contributed numerous book chapters on grape and wine phenolic chemistry and has co-edited a book on the chemistry of red wine color.

Dr. Kennedy received his Bachelor s degree in Chemistry and his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, both from the University of California, Davis, and has worked in the wine industry (Ridge Vineyards). After receiving his PhD, Dr. Kennedy conducted postdoctoral research on grape and wine phenolic chemistry at the University of Adelaide in South Australia before becoming a faculty member at Oregon State University where he was instrumental in developing the Enology and Viticulture option in their Food Science program. Upon leaving Oregon State University, Dr Kennedy worked at the Australian Wine Research Institute as their Research Manager for Chemistry before becoming Chair and Director at Fresno State. He is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient, conducting research at the University of Bordeaux. In recognition of his research accomplishments, the American Chemical Society-Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry awarded Dr. Kennedy with its Young Scientist Award in 2008. He serves as an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture and is a contributing editor for Practical Winery and Vineyard. Kennedy is a Past-President for the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the California Raisin Marketing Board, and the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association.

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