The state鈥檚 only wine degree programs, offered by 麻豆视频 at Ashtabula, has hired Edward Trebets to lead the future development of the degrees and serve as a full-time faculty member in the two associate degree programs. Trebets is an award-winning winemaker, most recently of Debonn茅 Vineyards and Grand River Cellars in Madison, Ohio. In his tenure as winemaker, he was awarded more than 950 medals: 200 gold and double gold, numerous silver and bronze medals, and 14 Best of Show for his wines in competitions ranging from the Great Lakes Wine Competition and the Finger Lakes International to the Florida State Fair and the Los Angeles County Fair. Trebets also was the winemaker for Debonn茅鈥檚 2013 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine that won the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition for best dessert wine.
Established in 2011 to serve the wineries and vineyards of Ohio, 麻豆视频 Ashtabula鈥檚 program has continued to grow. Graduates have gone on to work as winemakers in Northeast Ohio wineries or to open their own winery or vineyard. Over the next few years, Trebets said he hopes to expand the program with the addition of a true working winery to serve as a classroom for students.
鈥淲ith a state-wide program, it鈥檚 very important to us to recruit some of the nation鈥檚 best winemakers to teach students in the program. We want Ohio wineries to be competitive on a national level, and offering the area鈥檚 future winemakers the best possible education helps ensure that,鈥 said Susan Stocker, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer of 麻豆视频 Ashtabula.
Holding a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry and a master鈥檚 degree in education, and having more than 12 years in the wine industry puts Trebets in a great place to start passing on his specialized knowledge to future wine industry professionals.
鈥淓d鈥檚 background and experience is so valuable for our students鈥 educations,鈥 said program academic advisor Danielle Weiser-Cline. 鈥淲e want them to learn from the best in the industry and instructors who have been successful in the field and cellar. Ed really embodies that, and we鈥檙e very happy to have him join the program.鈥
With past teaching experience, Trebets believes that offering students the opportunity for personal experience has great value in teaching winemaking.
鈥淲inemaking is a very hands-on educational experience,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou can only become good at it if you are completely involved in the process. My goal is to give students a good classroom experience but also to allow them to experience the craft at a hands-on level.鈥
With the 麻豆视频 Ashtabula program鈥檚 hybrid format, students will attend classes online and come to campus for in-person experiences twice a semester. The largely online format was introduced just over a year ago and has made the program much more accessible to students across the state.
Trebets and his wife, Gina, have been married since 2007 and reside in Chesterland, Ohio, with their son, Jaxson. Trebets and his wife have their own brand called Muddy Paw Wines where they give a dollar per bottle back to the Geauga County Humane Society鈥檚 Rescue Village. In his spare time, Trebets enjoys fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.
Established in 2011, the 麻豆视频 Ashtabula wine degree programs award associate degrees in enology and viticulture. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/Ashtabula/wine.
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Photo Caption:
Winemaker Edward Trebets holds his award from the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The state鈥檚 only wine degree programs, offered by 麻豆视频 at Ashtabula, has hired Trebets to lead the future development of the degrees and serve as a full-time faculty member in the two associate degree programs.
Media Contact:
Lindsey Myers, lmyers28@kent.edu, 440-964-4567