Maynard Amerine

1911–1998
Department of Enology and Viticulture, UC Davis

Maynard Amerine retired to St. Helena after a long and distinguished academic career with UC Davis. In 1936 he became the first research professor in its Department of Enology and Viticulture, and remained with that department both as an active professor, chairing it from 19571962, and emeritus, until his death. Most importantly, Maynard is credited with stimulating the wine industry after Prohibition. In the 1930’s, he inventoried the vineyards of California with fellow professor Albert J.Winkler and together they created a climate classification for the state, later adopted internationally. Maynard traveled to France in 1937, and subsequently made many studies of the wine country of Europe, advising governments on winegrowing internationally, as well as guiding those who shared his enthusiasm for wine and travel on the tours abroad he led for UC Davis.

A prolific writer, Maynard authored research articles and textbooks and helped promote the appreciation of wine in less technical works. In 1962, he became an advisor to the just formed NVWLA board and arranged for a donation of books and pamphlets on wine from UC Davis, later adding Frona Wait’s lantern slides to the growing collections. In 1964, Maynard and Jim Beard organized five lectures on wine and wine history for NVWLA. These lectures grew into a series of weekend wine classes offered only in the summer and in ten years nearly a thousand had taken the classes. In 1976, Wines:Their Sensory Evaluation written with Edward B. Roessler was published and became the standard work for the innovative field. Maynard’s bestselling Wine, An Introduction for Americans, written with Vernon Singleton, came out in 1978 and in 1984, as one of its three editors, his excellent Book of California Wine.

Dick Lyon says at the time he wished to make a portrait, a close friend of Maynard’s was dying of cancer. Perhaps because Dick was an understanding physician, Maynard agreed to be photographed and Dick was able to take several pictures of Maynard in his garden where, like André Tchelistcheff, Dick says he seemed truly at home.