Harold Olmo
Harold Olmo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | June 30, 2006 (aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Viticulturist, Professor |
| Years active | 1938–1977 (professor), consultant thereafter |
| Known for | Breeding Olmo grapes, founding California's first grape quarantine station at UC Davis |
Harold Olmo (July 31, 1909 – June 30, 2006) was a distinguished American expert in viticulture and served as a professor at the University of California, Davis. He is renowned for breeding a variety of grape cultivars collectively known as Olmo grapes. During the 1950s, Olmo played a pivotal role in founding California's inaugural quarantine station at UC Davis, which facilitated the introduction of international vine species and significantly contributed to the growth of California's wine sector by promoting expanded cultivation of Vitis vinifera.
Career
Olmo completed his doctorate specializing in plant genetics at the University of California, Berkeley and initiated his grapevine studies in 1931 amid the Prohibition era. He commenced his tenure at UC Davis as an assistant professor in 1938 and established an experimental vineyard at Larkmead Vineyards the following year. In 1948, Olmo embarked on an extensive expedition covering over 12,000 miles through Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to gather grape seeds and cuttings. This effort resulted in a genetically rich repository housed at UC Davis. Additionally, he introduced Greek grape varieties such as assyrtiko and moschofilero, which subsequently entered commercial production.
In 1955, under the auspices of the Western Australian Vine Fruits Research Trust, Olmo dedicated eight months to investigating viticultural climates in Western Australia. His findings in 1956 highlighted Mount Barker and Frankland within the Great Southern region as highly suitable for producing European-style table wines.
Over nearly fifty years, Olmo was responsible for developing upwards of 30 grape cultivars, including prominent varieties like Ruby Cabernet, Carnelian, Rubired, and Royalty. Although he retired from UC Davis in 1977, he remained active as a consultant for the United Nations and was honored with Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships. Shortly before his passing in 2006, he secured a patent for his last grape variety. His comprehensive research collection is preserved at UC Davis (collection D280) and was digitized in 2020 to facilitate worldwide access.
Since 2013, Larkmead Vineyards has been producing 'Larkmead Dr. Olmo,' a cru consisting entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon derived from Olmo’s original experimental vines planted on their estate in 1939.
See also
External links
- Harold Olmo Papers at Special Collections Dept., University Library, University of California, Davis