Richard Grant Peterson, Ph.D, Winemaker, Winery Owner, Napa, CA

Richard Peterson began his career as a home winemaker in 948 in Iowa. After receiving a B.S. degree in Chemical Technology from Iowa State University in 1952, an M.S. in Food Technology (1956) from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of California, he joined E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, During his ten years at Gallo his major jobs included Research Director and Assistant Production Manager in charge of winemaking.

From April 1968 until October 1973 he was Winemaster at Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley. From November 1973 until 1986 he was Winemaster and President of The Monterey Vineyard, producing unique wines such as California's first Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc and Botrytis Pinot Noir, From April 1986 until April 1990, he was Winemaster, President and ultimately became Chairman of Atlas Peak Vineyards, Napa Valley Ca.

He led a group of investors in purchasing Folie a Deux Winery in St Helena, a in 1995 and remained Chairman there until the winery was sold in 2004.

Peterson continues today as viticulture and enology consultant for several high quality winery operations in California.

Dr. Peterson is a past President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and was a long time director of Wine Institute. He has been past Chairman of wine Institute technical seminar (WITS), and a member of most professional wine societies. including American Institute of Wine and Food, AWARE, Society of Wine Educators, and the International Wine Academy.

A former Napa Valley Wine Library V.P. and Instructor of Wine Appreciation, Dr Peterson taught “Appreciation of Wine in Moderation” courses for twelve years at Hartnell College in Salinas, California and he has guest lectured at University of California, Davis, the International Wine Academy, the Hotel School at the University of Houston, Texas, and elsewhere.

He has judged wines professionally in Australia, Portugal, France, Argentina and the U.K. as well as continuing to judge at most major American competitions.

Dr. Peterson is the original designer of the steel barrel pallet, now used by most American wineries and by many around the world. He published the design, donating the idea formally to the wine industry (WITS Proceedings, 1974) rather than patenting it. He has authored numerous publications, including winery newsletters, and research articles in technical journals< he created and wrote a column on “common sense winemaking” in Wines & Vines magazine and helped host an internet wine site/chat room on America Online for sixteen years. He holds patents on improved wine production processes and methodologies for treating plant diseases, notably Pierce’s Disease. His approach uses a novel method for forcing plants to accept the injection of antibiotics or other active agents, which could not otherwise be injected into grapevines or other plants. Like the barrel pallet, most inventions were given to the industry.

He is currently Vice President of the Monterey Scholarship Wine Auction, which develops funds to support outstanding, and often needy, students in the wine, food and hospitality industries.