Justine Vanden Heuvel

Assistant Professor

14 Plant Science Building, Ithaca
315-945-7022

Email: jev32@cornell.edu

Professional CV

Concentration

Viticulture

Graduate Fields

Departments

• Department of Horticulture
• Department of Horticultural Sciences, NYSAES, Geneva

Education

Bachelor's Degree
University of Guelph
1996

Master's Degree
University of Guelph
1999

Doctorate
University of Guelph
2002

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Overview

As an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Horticulture, I'm actively involved in both research and teaching.  My research is focused around improving both the environmental and economic sustainability of wine grape production systems in cool climates. 

Research Focus

The long-term goal of my research is to advance the science of horticulture using both traditional and novel approaches to optimize crop performance.  It is my hope that this research will provide a meaningful contribution to the broader agricultural sciences through potential application to other cropping systems, and to viticulture through improved cultural practices and wine quality.  As a function of this, my program is designed to sustain and invigorate the rapidly expanding Northeastern grape and wine industry by producing top-quality research with worldwide relevance.

In response to the broad needs of the grape and wine industry, my program has established a strong focus on multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches. The following long-term objectives of my research program have been shaped by the principles discussed above.

Goal 1: Optimizing winegrape production using computational tools 

Vineyard managers and wine makers employ a variety of operational field targets to guide cultural practices, particularly with respect to canopy architecture and canopy management.  However, these targets lack precision in that they are often broad (e.g., a general effort to keep clusters exposed) or exceedingly difficult for growers to quantify and implement based on their specific production environment (e.g., maintaining a leaf area to fruit ratio of 7 to 14 cm² per gram of fruit).   My lab has developed quantitative methods for precisely characterizing and sampling grapevine canopies.  These highly quantitative, multi-disciplinary response models are the foundation for the applied production models we are also developing.  The applied production models implement precise quantitative targets for optimizing winegrape production.

Goal 2: Determining how ecophysiological factors affect grape flavors and aromas

It is difficult to predict the impact of viticultural practices on flavors and aromas without understanding how a broad range of ecophysiological factors influence vine performance and fruit composition, as any change in viticultural practices generally impacts vine microclimate.  There are a wide range of compounds that contribute to wine varietal character and sensory characteristics through specific flavor and aroma profiles, but the impact of physiological and environmental conditions on these compounds during fruit growth is largely unknown.  Thus far in the program, our focus has been on how changes to the canopy structure affect cluster light interception and cluster temperature.  We're conducting and/or collaborating on several studies to determine the impact of light, temperature, and canopy architecture on specific flavor and aroma compounds in V. vinifera and hybrid cultivars so that viticultural practices can be better targeted towards optimizing fruit composition.  

Goal 3: Enhancing economic sustainability of winegrape production

Recommending vineyard practices based solely on their impact on fruit and/or wine composition ignores a fundamental goal of most grape and wine producers: profitability.   However many growers, particularly in the Northeast, lack a straightforward reference for maximizing returns and setting minimum farm-level prices in light of existing market conditions.  My program has worked collaboratively towards establishing a model to enhance the decision-making acuity of growers with respect to grapevine crop load management.   Building on this framework we have developed and completed multi-disciplinary projects on the impact of vineyard management practices on the costs of production and consumers' willingness-to-pay for the resulting wines.  

Goal 4: Improving environmental sustainability of winegrape production

Winegrape production, particularly of V. vinifera, is challenging in Northeastern vineyards where fertile soils can produce vigorous vines and a humid climate can result in high disease pressure.  As a result, fungicide usage is high.  Our objective is to determine the impact of vineyard management on canopy spray penetration, disease incidence, and leaching of nutrients and agrochemicals in vineyard soils to identify best practices that can reduce the environmental impact of growing V. vinifera in the Northeast.  To achieve this objective we have undertaken a series of studies on both canopy/crop load management and vineyard floor management to identify viticultural practices to enhance the environmental sustainability of production operations. 

Outreach and Extension Focus

I work with extension educators to train winegrape growers throughout the Northeast to optimize winegrape production systems.

Instruction Focus

Teaching responsibilities include:

• Viticulture and Vineyard Management (HORT/VIEN 3440)
• Grapes to Wines (HORT/FDSC/VIEN 2204)
• Sustainable and Organic Grape Growing and Winemaking (HORT/VIEN 3120)

Additional Links

• Enology and Viticulture Undergraduate Program 
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• Meyers, J.M., G.L. Sacks, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel. 2012.  A computational approach for balancing competing objectives in winegrape production.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 63(2): In press.  
• Sun, Q.L., G.L. Sacks, S.D. Lerch, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2012.  Shoot thinning and cluster thinning impact yield, fruit composition, and wine quality of Corot noir.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 63(1): In press.  
• Scheiner, J.J., J.E. Vanden Heuvel, B. Pan, and G.L. Sacks. 2012. Modelling impacts of viticultural and environmental factors on 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in Cabernet franc grapes.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 63(1): In press.  
• Berkey, T.G., A.K. Mansfield, S.D. Lerch, J.M. Meyers, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2011.  Cropload adjustment in Seyval blanc: Impacts on yield components, fruit composition, consumer wine preferences, and economics of production.  HortTechnology 21(5): 593-598.       
• Meyers, J.M., G.L. Sacks, H. van Es, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel. 2011.  Improving vineyard sampling efficiency via dynamic spatially explicit optimization. Aust. J. Grape and Wine Res. 17(3): 306-315.  
• Sun, Q.L., G.L. Sacks, S.D. Lerch, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2011. Canopy microclimate and time of harvest impacts fruit composition and wine quality of Marechal Foch.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 62(1): 32-41.  
• Neto, C.C., C.A. Dao, M.R. Salvas, W.R. Autio, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2010. Variation in concentration of phenolic acid derivatives and quercetin glycosides in foliage of cranberry that may play a role in pest resistance.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci 135(6): 1-7.
• Kwasniewski, M.T., J.E. Vanden Heuvel, B. Pan, and G.L. Sacks.  2010. Timing of cluster light environment manipulation during grape development affects C13 norisoprenoid and carotenoid concentration of Riesling.  J. Agr. Food. Chem. 58(11): 6841-6849.  
• Scheiner, J.J., G.L. Sacks, B. Pan, S. Ennahli, L. Tarleton, A. Wise, S.D. Lerch, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2010. Impact of severity and timing of leaf removal on 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine concentrations in red wine grapes.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 61(3): 358-364.  
• Preszler, T.L., T.M. Schmit, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2010. A model to establish economically sustainable cluster thinning practices.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 61(1): 140-146.    
• Reynolds, A.G. and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2009.  Influence of grapevine training systems on vine growth and fruit composition: A review.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 60(3): 251-268.       
• Sandler, H.A., P.E. Brock II, and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2009.  Effects of three reflective mulches on yield and fruit composition of coastal New England wine grapes.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 60(3): 332-338.  
• Meyers, J.M. and J.E. Vanden Heuvel.  2008. Enhancing the precision and spatial acuity of point quadrat analysis via calibrated exposure mapping.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 59(4): 425-431.  
• Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J.L. Robidoux, W.R. Autio, and C.C. Neto. 2005. Timing of partial defoliation affects carbohydrate concentration of vegetative tissues and concentration of phenolics in berries of potted 'De Chaunac' (Vitis sp.) grapevines.  Can. J. Plant Sci. 85(3): 703-708.  
• Vanden Heuvel, J.E., J.T.A. Proctor, J.A. Sullivan, and K.H. Fisher. 2004. Influence of training/trellising system and rootstock selection on productivity and fruit composition of 'Chardonnay' and 'Cabernet franc' grapevines in Ontario, Canada.  Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 55(3): 253-264.  
• Vanden Heuvel, J.E., K.H. Fisher, J.T.A. Proctor and J. A. Sullivan. 2004.  Shading affects morphology, dry-matter partitioning, and photosynthetic response of greenhouse-grown 'Chardonnay' grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.).  HortScience 39(1):65-70.  
• Vanden Heuvel, J.E., E.D. Leonardos, K.H. Fisher, J.T.A. Proctor, and J.A. Sullivan.  2002.  Translocation    and partitioning patterns of 14C photoassimilate from light- and shade-adapted shoots in        greenhouse-grown 'Chardonnay' grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.).  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127(6):912-      918.  

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