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Q&A with Ann Noble, Inventor of the Aroma Wheel

by Michael Cervin

Ann C. Noble is a sensory chemist and retired professor from the University of California, Davis. During her time at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, she invented the Wine Aroma Wheel which is credited with enhancing the public’s understanding of wine tasting and wine terminology. She earned her Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Massachusetts, and was hired by UC Davis in 1974 to work in their sensory research program. In 1984, her research lead her to develop the Wine Aroma Wheel when she realized there were no quantitative studies conducted about aromas in wine. Other research included how a wines aroma and flavor can influence consumer choices as well as how wine tasters perceive astringency.

Q&A with Hugh Davies, President and CEO of Schramsberg Vineyards

by Michael Cervin

Hugh Davies was born in 1965, the year his parents, Jack and Jamie Davies, revived the historic Schramsberg Vineyards property in Napa Valley. Forty years later, he was named president and CEO of the then 40-year-old sparkling wine house. At Schramsberg, Hugh has led the ongoing effort to fine-tune winemaking and grape-growing techniques, building upon the winery's track record of producing award-winning sparkling wines. He was instrumental in replanting the winery's historic hillside vineyards to Bordeaux varietals. He holds a master's degree in enology from the University of California, Davis, and has his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in Maine.

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