The American botanist, plant physiologist, enologist and vine breeder Dr. Harold Paul Olmo (1909-2006) studied horticulture and genetics at the University of California at Berkeley. Towards the end of the American Prohibition, he was appointed professor of viticulture at the reactivated Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California at Davis in 1931 and entrusted by the head of the institute, Albert Julius Winkler (1894-1989), with the task of breeding new grape varieties. He subsequently became the leading grapevine geneticist of his era. By the time of his retirement in 1979, he had created several thousand new varieties, about 30 of which were included in the National Variety Lists.
Olmo completed the herbarium created by US physiologist Maynard A. Amerine (1911-1998) with many grape varieties grown in California and worldwide between 1930 and 1980. He imported hundreds of varieties from Europe (Greece, Portugal, Spain) and the Middle East and carried out numerous experiments regarding the development of rootstocks and the breeding of hybrids. Olmo recognized the enormous potential of the American grapevine species Vitis rotundifolia in terms of resistance to various vine diseases and, above all, its complete resistance to phylloxera. The new varieties he created were Blush Seedless, Calzin, Canner Seedless, Carmine, Carnelian, Centurion, Christmas Rose, Dawn Se edless, Delight, Early Muscat, Emerald Riesling, Emerald Seedless, Flora, Gold, Niabell, Perlette, Red Globe, Royalty, Rubired, Ruby Cabernet, Ruby Seedless and Symphony.
Many of the varieties used in California today were introduced by him, for example the Syrah in 1936. On behalf of the UNO he was active in numerous projects concerning food and agricultural organization. Last but not least, he was also involved in the development of the first mechanical harvesters. His extensive travels in Australia, South America, Europe, India, Afghanistan and Iran earned him the title "Indiana Jones of viticulture". His extensive consulting activities in his special discipline were also appreciated worldwide. Olmo received numerous honors and medals for his services to viticulture, such as from the American Pomology Society (fruit-growing association), the Pope, the OIV and the UN. In retirement, he continued to work on grapevine breeding.
Image: By UC Davis archival photo, CC BY 3.0, Link
