Chris Gerling

Mr. Gerling thinks craft beverages are a wonderful combination of agriculture, art, science, and forklift operation. He first caught the wine bug as a senior in college, and after a few years of working in vineyards, wineries, laboratories, and vineyard and winery laboratories, he realized it was starting to look like a career. Arriving at his post in extension and preparing to help people make wine, the first call he received was about fermenting cider to distill into vodka. He now realizes that it was the future calling.

Chris is currently a Senior Extension Associate in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, where he works with the craft beverage industry to create educational programs that support the growth and improved quality of premium wines, ciders, and distilled spirits. He also organizes and conducts workshops and seminars that focus on production and analytical techniques for farm-based beverages. Chris is the past chair of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture/Eastern Section and serves on the ASEV national chapter’s laboratory proficiency committee. He is a member of the Cider Institute of North America’s executive committee.