American Society for Enology and Viticulture Renames Extension Distinction Award to Honor Dr. Anita Oberholster

Prestigious award recognizes the enduring legacy of a beloved researcher, educator and extension specialist

Davis, Calif., January 12, 2026 — The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) announces that the ASEV Extension Distinction Award has been officially renamed The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence in honor of Dr. Anita Oberholster, who passed away on January 11, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Dr. Oberholster was a globally respected professor of cooperative extension in enology at the University of California, Davis, whose work bridged rigorous science with practical solutions for the wine and grape industry. Throughout her 14-year career at UC Davis, she was known for her scientific excellence, her deep commitment to education and mentorship, and her ability to translate complex research into accessible tools that growers and winemakers could immediately apply.

“Renaming this award in Anita’s honor reflects the immense contributions she made to extension work and the profound impact she had on our industry,” said James Osborne, Oregon State University professor and ASEV board president. “Her dedication to serving growers and winemakers, mentoring the next generation of wine and grape scientists, and translating research into practical solutions will continue to inspire extension professionals for generations to come.”

A Legacy of Service and Scientific Impact

Dr. Oberholster’s distinguished career advanced understanding in critical areas of wine science and viticulture. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on the California wine industry and beyond, including:

• Pioneering work on smoke taint: Dr. Oberholster led a large group of researchers developing methods to assess and mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on grapes and wines. This work became essential during the devastating wildfire seasons of 2017, 2018 and 2020, when fires closed in on key California growing regions.
• Applied research on grapevine diseases: As the lead investigator on a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant, she worked to understand the impact of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus, helping growers diagnose and respond to a disease with significant economic impact on the California industry.
• Exceptional communicator and educator: Dr. Oberholster excelled at making complex science accessible, delivering education through on-site workshops, webinars, videos and one-on-one outreach with producers across California and around the world. Her warm personality and gift for communication made her a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor.
• Service to the global wine community: Dr. Oberholster served multiple terms on the ASEV Board of Directors and was a regular presenter at major conferences, including the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. She was twice named by Wine Business Monthly as one of the Top 50 most influential people in the U.S. wine industry.

In 2021, Dr. Oberholster was a recipient of the very award now renamed in her honor, the ASEV Extension Distinction Award, recognition of her outstanding extension contributions to viticulture and enology.

“Anita was an ideal Cooperative Extension specialist,” said UC Davis Professor and former Chair of the Viticulture and Enology Department Dr. David Block. “She was so talented at explaining complex concepts in understandable and usable ways for stakeholders. Her personality put winemakers and vineyard managers at ease, drawing them into discussions that they might not have had with other academics.”

A Legacy of Mentorship

Perhaps Dr. Oberholster’s greatest passion was mentoring postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate interns, guiding and inspiring them to discover their love of science while embracing them in an exciting and caring environment. Those she mentored have become leaders themselves in industry and academia on at least four continents around the world.

About The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence

The Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence will continue to recognize exceptional extension professionals in enology and viticulture whose outreach, education and application of research drive meaningful industry advancement. Recipients are honored for translating scientific knowledge into practical tools and for elevating the reach and relevance of extension programming.

The award is presented annually in June at the ASEV National Conference and includes a plaque and monetary award. Recipients are expected to present on their extension programs at the conference.

About ASEV

Founded in 1950, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture is dedicated to advancing the interests of professionals in grape and wine research, production and education worldwide. ASEV fosters communication and collaboration among researchers, educators and industry practitioners.