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• 1 2021-04-29T14:32:00-07:00 Albert J. Winkler 12 University of California, Davis, 1894-1989 plain 2021-05-11T13:38:08-07:00 Dr. Albert Julius Winkler was born in Texas. He is considered to be the father of modern viticulture in California and one of UC Davis' great horticulturists. He started working at Davis in 1921 as an associate in viticulture, becoming a professor of viticulture in 1937, and served as chair of the viticulture and enology department from 1935 until 1957. During this time, Dr. Winkler increased the professional staff in the department from a handful of people to a staff of 14, including graduate students Harold P. Olmo and Maynard A. Amerine, as well as added experimental vineyards in Davis, Fresno, and the Napa Valley. Dr. Winkler helped to transform the department at UC Davis into one of the world’s leading research and education centers in viticulture and enology. He successfully lobbied for a departmental wine cellar, winery, and a permanent base for viticulture and enology in Wickson Hall. Dr. Winkler analyzed the effects of pruning on the production of table grapes and evaluated different varieties of wine grapes for making an assortment of wines. This work led Dr. Winkler to classify California’s grape growing areas into five climatic regions and provided recommendations for varieties to grow depending on the region: regions I and II represent the cooler regions for growing table or wine grapes for dry wine while the warmer climates in regions III and IV are for dry and sweet wines. Region V, according to the map, is best suited for dessert wines.