Research - Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC)

Affiliated Researchers and students conduct grape and wine research through the Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC). VERC is widely recognized as an applied research and education powerhouse for the California raisin, table, wine grape, and wine industry.  Through partnerships including industry, state, academia, and government entities, faculty, and research scientists conduct solution-driven research and disseminate knowledge to the grape and wine industry and community.  

VERC is one of three research centers under the auspices of the California Agricultural Technology Institute within the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.   

Students may enhance their academic careers by working under the direction of affiliated researchers on projects designed to benefit the grape and wine industry. We also have several industry-funded research assistantships available each year to interested students who work and learn under the direction of our Affiliated researchers. There are assistantships available to both undergraduate and graduate students. 

With a history of industry support, the Viticulture and Enology Research Center building provides research laboratories, administrative and faculty offices, meeting space, and a specialized viticulture and enology library that is available to the campus community and the public. Other unique facilities used for research and teaching include the raisin processing plant, research winery, commercial winery, and campus vineyard.   

Dr. Anil Shrestha, former Viticulture and Enology Department Chair, has been appointed as interim director of VERC oversee its activities during the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

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Centers within Jordan College’s California Agricultural Technology Institute

Within Jordan College, there are three centers: IFA (Institute for Food and Agriculture), VERC (Viticulture and Enology Research Center), and CIT (Center for Irrigation Technology).  The vision of these three centers is to collaboratively position Fresno State as being recognized as the “go to” university campus for applied agricultural research leveraging faculty expertise, student engagement, University Agricultural Laboratory (“the farm”), research facilities (JARC) and industry partnerships.