Barberani Grechetto 1998

Among the many areas of Mr. Meador's pioneering work are: varietal identification and clonal isolation; vine physiology operational theory; basal leaf removal; vineyard design--close vine spacing and the vertical shoot system, as well as split-canopy trellising; root-stock studies; low and no sulfur dioxide use in winemaking; research and the introduction of malo-lactic fermentation in white wines to American winemaking; planting of America's first plantation of French barrel oak trees; and the list goes on and on. It is an extraordinary list of winegrowing contributions all having a pronounced effect upon American wines. Currently, most of the new coastal vineyard plantings are of the design and direction he developed. Procedures he developed are having profound effects upon wine. These changes are not limited to American vineyards. After testing the new vineyard design for a decade (1978-1988), the Ventana has been undergoing conversion in its entirety. Beginning with the 1994 harvest, the majority of the grapes from the Ventana will be from the new system of viticulture and the decades of research will converge on the glass of wine for the consumer. Mr. Meador works with both American winegrowers and foreign and continues to pursue viticultural research.