Al’s viticulture career began in 1982 when he planted and managed his 65 acre Seven Springs Vineyard in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Seven Springs Vineyard was named by Food and Wine Magazine (December 2005) as one of the top 10 vineyards in the USA.

Over the past 30 years he has served the Oregon wine industry as Chairman of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board, the Chairman of the Oregon Winegrower’s Association, and President of the Low Input and Enology, Inc.( LIVE) sustainability certification program. Al is a current member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture. He has presented information on Oregon’s sustainable LIVE program at International conferences in Greece, Portugal, and at various viticulture conferences throughout the United States.

Al has also lectured on Pinot noir production in Oregon, at the California Wine Symposium, and Sustainable Viticulture at the 5th International Symposium on Cool Climate Viticulture and Oenology in Melbourne, Australia. He co-authored sections in the Oregon Winegrape Grower’s Guide, Marketing and Contracts and Sustainable Viticulture in Oregon.

Al founded the Winemaking and Viticulture management educational training program at Chemeketa Community College. In addition to developing the curriculum for the degree programs, Al oversaw the design and planting of the teaching vineyard and winery at the college site. Al teaches classes in vineyard management, wine making, and agricultural business management which emphasizes sustainable production techniques.

Sharing his personal experiences and his international observations of sustainability programs for winegrapes will be beneficial to UK vineyards.