Student earns Goldwater Scholarship

Enterprise staff

Two Oklahoma State University students have been awarded the 2023 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious national honors recognizing outstanding students seeking research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Georgia Eastham of Davis and Charlie Vermeire of Montana are OSU’s 31st and 32nd Goldwater Scholars. The one- and two-year Goldwater Scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Established by Congress in 1986, The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation serves as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of U.S. Sen. Goldwater of Arizona.

Name droppers

Today, Goldwater alumni are conducting research that helps defend the nation, finding cures for diseases and teaching future generations of scientists.

Eastham is a junior triple-majoring in biochemestry, chemistry, and plant and soil sciences.

Her research incorporates nutritional sciences gift, especially since frappato is a relative rare variety, thanks to the low yield. No one makes frappato to get rich; passion drives its production, and you can practically taste the passion of winemaker Pierluigi Cosenza in this elegant bottle.

Nothing could be more different from rare frappato than ubiquitous chardonnay. I mentioned a few columns ago that I had a chard craving, and to my surprise it continues.

I tried a few low-priced versions, one made with organic grapes by a reputable cooperative in Argentina. How bad could it be?

I asked myself. The answer: pretty bad. I went up to a $15 bottle, this one French. Enjoyable enough but hardly exciting. In that price range I'd prefer a vermentino or verdicchio.

But I'm pleased to announce that by going up to $25 (much less than the fancy Napa chards) I found a really lovely one from the Margaret River region in Australia — 2021 Vasse Filix. Vasse Filix was the first wine estate in the area (established in 1967), a region that has been occupied and cultivated and chemistry. Eastham plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and research chemical biology. for 50,000 years (!) by the native Wadandi people. It has some of the oldest soil in the world. Do I just imagine that I taste that ancient history in the glass?

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Aussie chards, like California chards, can be buttery, oaky monsters with way too much alcohol for my taste or for warm weather dishes. This one, though it has a bit of oak and underwent full malolactic, is crisp, vibrant, and fresh, its tropical fruit richness and almost creaminess balanced by minerals and sea kisses.

Winemaker Virginia Willcock is well-known for her citrus-and-mineral forward chards and this bottle exemplifies that nicely. Wine critics are as impressed as I am—it scored a 93 from both Suckley and Wine Enthusiast and a 90 from Wine Advocate — pretty unusual for a 12.5% alcohol chardonnay. WE summarizes it well: “it's beautifully balanced, the crunchy acidity neatly juxtaposing the textural weight. Finessed with polish and craftsmanship, but also utterly drinkable now.”

Best of all, you can find it right in downtown Davis at Wines in Tandem. If you haven't visited this new little wine bar/shop, do check it out as soon as you can.

Anything But Chardonnay (ABC) your motto? No matter. Owner Ryan Crosbie will steer you toward something more to your liking. But if he happens to have the Vasse Filix open, ask for a taste and let me know if you're still ABC afterward.

The Poggio di Bortolone is 100% frappato, the Vasse Filix 100% chard, but these grapes are themselves mutts. Frapatto seems to be a cross between sangiovese and a so-far-unidentified grape (come on, UCD, get to work), while chardonnay, UCD discovered, is a cross between pinot noir and gouais blanc, a grape thought to originate in Croatia. Imagine the muttiness when (as is often the case) frappato and chard are blended with other grapes. Mutts indeed. Just like me. Just like us. — Reach Susana Leonardi at vinosusana@ gmail.com. Comment on this column at www. davisenterprise.com.