One of the world’s leading grape geneticists, Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita of UC Davis, and owner of Lagier Meredith winery, has spent decades identifying and profiling grape varieties.  It was so interesting that the interview has been split into two episodes, this one about the background of Ampelography and DNA profiling as well as the definitions of key terms such as variety, clone, and hybrid.  The second episode features how she uncovered the history of Zinfandel and how wineries use DNA profiling in wine marketing. Detailed Show Notes: Carole’s backgroundWorked part-time at a retail nursery, got into plant genetics, and wanted to be a flower breederChanged to doing a Ph.D. on tomato genetics at UC DavisWorked in biotech for a few years on cotton, corn, and soybeansShe went into grapes because a position opened up at UC DavisAmpelography - the study of grape identification before DNA testingGrape varieties identified by their leaves, which vary distinctly, not by their fruit, which look similarBefore DNA testing, outside experts in Ampelography would often disagree with each other on grape identificationThe upside of ampelography is that it’s very fast. Today grapes are usually first identified by ampelography and then confirmed with DNA testingDNA testing for grapesStarted ~1991Looks at segments of DNA to look at specific markersNeed a minimum of 6 markers to identify a variety and more to establish variety parentageVitis Microsatellite Consortium - a group of academics that came together to develop DNA markers for grapesIn 1-2 years, developed 100s of markersGrape variety definition - used differently in trade or by scientistsTrade definition - grapes that make different wines (e.g., Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris) are different varietiesScientific definition - a cultivated variety that goes back to a single seedling, scientifically, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are clonal variants of a single varietyClones - variations within a varietyClones are subtypes that have developed over timeUsually have something to do with the fruit (e.g., color variants like Traminer vs. Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir/Blanc/Gris)Clones arise through somatic mutations of the varietyOlder the variety (e.g., Pinot, Syrah) - more likely to have more clonesYoung varieties (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon) have fewer clones (<400 years old, likely a natural seedling in the early 1700s, and likely singled out to do late budding, which provided spring frost protection)Some varietals (e.g., Pinot) are more likely to have mutationsPeople need to notice a difference (e.g., looser clusters which can have less bunch rot, early ripening, which avoids rainfall during harvest, or higher sugar levels for grapes like Riesling in cooler areas) and be preferentially chosen to plant new vineyardsENTAV - an institution in France that systematically identifies and registers clonesIn Chile, Jean-Michel Boursiquot, one of the world’s top ampelographers, identified that Chileans were calling Carmenere MerlotGrape FamiliesA term with no scientific meaningE.g., Muscat - “muscat” is a type of flavor; all current varieties likely descendants of a couple of ancient varietiesEvery variety is descended from 2 parent varietiesHybridsGenetic/scientific definition of a hybrid is an offspring of 2 different parents of the same OR different species (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon is technically a hybrid of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc)Interspecific hybrid or cross is an offspring of parents from different species (e.g., hybrids of American and European grape varieties used to try and combat phylloxera) Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.