Federico Casassa

Education: BS in Viticulture and a MS in Enology from the School of Agronomic Sciences in Mendoza (Argentina), and a Ph.D. in Wine Chemistry and Sensory Analysis from Washington State University (USA).

Employment: Professor (full) of Enology with the Wine and Viticulture Department of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California. Teaches Wine Sensory Analysis in the Wine Program of Hancock College in Santa Maria.

ASEV Activities: Member from 2010–2013 and 2016–present. Board of Directors, 2020–present; “Best Paper of the Year Award” of the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. (AJEV) in three opportunities: 2014, 2017, and 2022; Annual Conference speaker, 2010–2012; Annual Conference Moderator, 2017–2024. Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Speaker and Moderator, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; ASEV Climate Change Symposium Organizing Committee, 2023; ASEV Technical Program Committee member, 2023-present.

Other Activities: Published research includes studies on the effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) and intrinsic variations of berry size in grapes and wines, cluster thinning, as well as on the various aspects of phenolic extraction and sensory outcomes of different maceration techniques in red wines, including extended maceration, whole cluster and stem additions, cofermentation and prefermentative cold soak. Runs research laboratory at Cal Poly that focuses on non–volatile and volatile wine chemistry and combines chemistry with sensory data (descriptive analysis and time–intensity techniques), with strong focus on grapes and wines of the Central Coast of California, including Pinot noir, Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec), Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache), and California heritage varietals such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Awarded the Distinguished Scholar Award of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Vinitaly Italian Wine Ambassador. Completed sabbatical at the Australian Wine Research Institute (2023) and taught at the University of Adelaide (Australia) during Summer quarter 2025. Regularly judges for local and international wine competitions.