07/12/07 Farwell to Another Wine Pioneer

Farewell to Another Wine Pioneer. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Chas Nagel has gone to the great vineyard in the sky. Nagel died late last week and was one of the last of the Washington wine pioneers. Many people in the wine industry feel that without Nagel's contribution, the industry would still be in its infancy. Dr. Bob Stevens is the Interim Director of WSU's Viticulture and Enology Dept. STEVENS: He was the key to the whole industry. You have to grow the grapes and you have to make high quality wine out of them. And you have to determine that they're high quality so Chas was one of those people who was way out in front. Along with Walt Clore, Chas Nagel and a few others created the wine industry as we know it in Washington State. STEVENS: Without his work with Walt Clore, I don't think the industry would have moved as rapidly as it has. The two of them are really the people who I think kick started it. Ron Irvine, author and vintner says what they now call sensory panels was something that Nagel started to make sure the wine was a good tasting, high quality product. IRVINE: He brought in people with his tasting panel, I think he had 40 people, that initially started out not knowing anything and ended up knowing quite a bit especially about Washington wines. And they would taste right there at WSU Pullman. Irvine believes that Nagel has had a big influence on all wine makers. IRVINE: He did a lot of pioneering work on the chemistry of wine and I'm sure I use it in my own winemaking without knowing it. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.