“I have great respect for Yavapai College’s VEN program and the caliber of student and wine created there,” he said.
“This is a great honor and a wonderful opportunity,” Avery Follensbee said. “Everybody in the wine industry knows the reputation of Yavapai College and the Southwest Wine Center.”
A certified sommelier and graduate of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Avery Follensbee was drawn to viticulture and enology in 2008, while working in a wine store in Park City, Utah. “I just fell in love with it. When you’re in a wine store, the wines are like little museums: time and place captured in a bottle.”
Avery Follensbee began his formal study of wine in 2013 at Walla Walla Community College in Eastern Washington and built a resumé that draws extensively from the classroom, the tasting room and the vineyard. He worked as a research associate in the Sonoma Valley and supervised coastal operations for the Frei Brothers and Ernest & Julio Gallo wineries in Healdsburg. He has harvest experience in vineyards from Sonoma to Ithaca, New York to Eastern Washington State and Grand Junction, Colorado, where he currently teaches viticulture and enology courses at Colorado Mesa University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan, whose enthusiasm and problem-solving skills will undoubtedly enhance our department,” said YC’s Verde Valley Campus Associate Dean Heather Mulcaire. “With his awareness of industry trends and robust blend of educational and professional experiences, we are excited about the fresh perspectives and collaborative opportunities he will bring to the Arizona Wine Industry.”
Avery Follensbee will begin his duties in June. “I have great respect for Yavapai College’s VEN program and the caliber of student and wine created there,” he said. “I want it to continue to be an open, welcoming center of enological knowledge in the community.” QCBN
By Lisa B. Rhine
Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.
Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, two baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.
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