Dr. Andrew Walker is Professor and Geneticist for the Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis.

The ASEV Merit Award is presented annually to an individual who has significantly contributed in an outstanding manner to the progress and advancement of enology and viticulture to the industry and/or to the Society. This award acknowledges excellence in the fields of education, technology, research, management, public relations, or any discipline related to enology and viticulture.

The ASEV Board is pleased to honor Dr. Andrew Walker of the University of California in Davis as ASEV’s 2017 Merit Award recipient.

Dr. Andy Walker’s lab focuses on grape breeding and the genetics of resistance to pests and diseases. He breeds rootstocks for resistance to nematodes, phylloxera, fanleaf, drought and salinity, and wine grapes with resistance to Pierce’s disease and powdery mildew. He served as the Louis P. Martini Endowed Chair from 2000 to 2015 and was recently appointed the Louise Rossi Endowed Chair in Viticulture in 2015.

Dr. Walker is currently a professor and geneticist at the University of California, Davis, teaching general viticulture and grapevine identification. Dr. Walker has a long history of involvement with ASEV, serving as secretary/treasurer from 1999 to 2004 and technical program director from 2011 to 2015. He was also ASEV’s Honorary Research Lecturer in 2009.