ASEV Makes Wine Science More Accessible

The world of enology and viticulture is set to undergo a significant shift with the recent announcement from the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV). Starting January 2025, this prestigious publication, edited by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV), will transition to an open-access model. This decision is poised to have a substantial impact on the dissemination of research and knowledge within the fields of winemaking and grape growing, as it will allow unrestricted access to the journal's content, making it available to anyone interested, free of charge.

Dr. Markus Keller, the Scientific Editor for ASEV, underscored the importance of this change. He noted that this move is in alignment with the society's mission to serve as a crucial platform for the distribution of relevant research and information within the wine industry. Dr. Keller emphasized that open access not only increases the visibility of the articles published in the AJEV but also has the potential to enhance the citation rates of the authors contributing to the journal. This could lead to a broader impact of the research published, as the findings become more accessible to a global audience.

Under this new open-access model, all content published from January 1, 2025, onwards will be freely available to the public. Despite this shift, the AJEV will maintain its rigorous peer-review process, ensuring that the high standards for scholarly publication are upheld. However, to support the journal's operations under this new model, authors whose manuscripts are accepted for publication will be required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC). These fees are becoming common in the academic publishing world as journals move towards open access, and ASEV has indicated that the pricing structure will remain competitive compared to other journals in the enology and viticulture sectors.

The ASEV, established in 1950, has a long-standing reputation as a leading professional organization within the wine and grape industry. It brings together a diverse membership of approximately 1,600 professionals, including winemakers, vineyard managers, researchers, and academics from around the globe. The society is also known for organizing key industry events, which provide opportunities for networking, education, and the exchange of the latest research and techniques.

One of the major events hosted by the ASEV is the National Conference, scheduled for June 16-19, 2025, at the Portola Hotel and Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California. This event is expected to attract a wide range of participants from across the industry, offering a platform for discussing the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in enology and viticulture. Additionally, ASEV co-organizes the Unified Grape and Wine Symposium, in collaboration with the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). This symposium, set for January 28-30, 2025, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California, is another key event on the industry calendar, drawing participants from around the world to explore the cutting-edge developments in grape and wine production.

The transition of AJEV to an open-access model is a significant development for the wine and grape research community. It reflects broader trends in academic publishing towards greater accessibility and the democratization of knowledge. As more research becomes freely available, the potential for innovation and advancement within the industry grows, offering new opportunities for professionals and researchers alike. The ASEV's decision to embrace open access could well serve as a model for other specialized journals, helping to shape the future of academic publishing in the enology and viticulture fields.