Princeton ACS Meeting Announcement

Princeton ACS Section Dinner Meeting

Thursday, December 13, 2012

our guest speaker will be

James P. De Noble, M.S.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & 2013 Princeton ACS Section Chair

"The Professional Evaluation of Wine, a Chemist's Perspective"

Abstract

Essential to the appreciation of a fine wine, it is necessary to objectively evaluate it. Using the 20-point wine evaluation scale developed at the University of California at Davis we will demonstrate how a wine is objectively evaluated, just as the professionals do in the wine trade and wine publications. The purpose and types of tastings, and an explanation of the Davis scale attributes will be discussed. All of the evaluation attributes have a point of tangency with chemistry and as we go through each characteristic we will address the relevant chemistry. The process will be illustrated by successively evaluating an eclectic selection of five stylistically different wines.

Biography

Jim De Noble received a B.S. in chemistry from St. Peter's College in 1969, and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University in 2000. He has been employed with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in the Site Remediation Program for the past 24 years. He currently works in the Bureau of Inspection and Review and is a member of the State Mercury workgroup. Prior to joining the NJDEP he worked at Hoffman-LA Roche Inc. first as a Medicinal Chemist then as a Medical Information Scientist.

Jim has been interested in wine for many years. He is a graduate (with honors) of the Sommelier Institute of New Jersey and has completed advanced education in Italian Wines and Burgundy at the Institute. He is a member of the Society of Wine Educators and former Chapter Director with Les Amis du Vin. He also worked as a wine consultant in a wine shop from 1982 to 1987.

Reservations:

The meeting will be held in Frick Laboratory, Princeton University. The social mixer will begin at 5:30 pm in the CaFe area of Taylor Commons. The lecture will be held in room A57 off of Taylor Commons at 6:30 pm followed by dinner in Taylor Commons (CaFe area). Frick Laboratory is located at the east end of the pedestrian bridge on Washington Rd, adjacent to the Weaver Track and Field Stadium.

Parking is available in Lot 21, corner of Faculty Road and Fitzrandolph Road or other lots along Ivy Lane (see www.princeton.edu/main/visiting/ for other parking options). The seminar is free, however reservations are required (must be 21 for wine tasting). Reservations are required for the wine tasting and dinner, which is $20 for members, and $10 for students (must be 21 for wine tasting). Please contact Louise Lawter at louise.lawter@gmail.com or 215-428-1475 by December 6 to make reservations. Reservations must be canceled no later than December 11 to avoid being billed for the dinner.