Having lived and worked in Washington State for almost thirty years, most of them as a research professor in Geology, Agriculture, and Soil Science at Washington State University, Alan knows thePacific Northwest intimately. About the state, he says “I truly know of no place on Earth like Washington State.”

Alan came to the Northwest after obtaining degrees in Earth Sciencefrom UC Santa Cruz and in Soil Science from University of California,Davis and a stint with the US Geological Survey. Alan’s research at WSU included the origin of the unique soils and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest U.S., Italy, and other countries; the Ice Age geology of the Northwest; soils and viticulture; and soil and water conservation.

Over the last ten years, Alan has marshaled a lifetime of skills and experience to focus on wine grapes and vineyard terroirs,first at WSU then more recently as a private consultant. Not surprisingly, given Alan’s professional history and passion,he says “landscapes make my pulse race, and none more than the landscapes of Washington! I am a savant of landscapes. I have a nose for deciphering the nuances,history and intricacies of a seemingly simple or ordinary hillslope, especially if it is in service of finding great vineyard sites.” Alan has consulted on wine grapes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, and Chile.