Harold Olmo

Harold Olmo

Harold Olmo ( July 31, 1909 , † June 30, 2006 ) was an American plant physiologist , botanist , oenologist and grape breeder. He was Professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California at Davis.

In 1931 he was hired by the then director of the institute, AJ Winkler, with the task of breeding new grape varieties. By his retirement in 1979 he presented several thousand new breeds, of which 31 varieties were included in the national variety lists and some had commercial success. His best-known breeds are the varieties Ruby Cabernet , Rubired , Royalty , Emerald Riesling , Symphony , Flora , Carmine , Carnelian and Centurian . When it comes to table grapes , the Perlette , Ruby Seedless , Early Muscat and Red Globe varieties are well known.

In addition to his work as a vine breeder, Olmo has had a significant impact on California viticulture . By selecting clones and setting up a quarantine station in Davis, he was able to significantly improve the state of health and the quality of the important grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon , Pinot Noir , Chardonnay and Riesling and adapt them to local conditions. The rise of US viticulture on the international market is mainly based on the switch of winemakers to these international grape varieties.

See also the article Viticulture in the United States .

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• Wine Spectator magazine "Grapevine", September 30, 2006, p. 24
• Presentation by M. Andrew Walker in, Proceedings of the ASEV 50th Anniversary Meeting in Seattle, June 19-23, 2000