Gene Spaziani (right), then president of the American Wine Society, presents the organization’s annual award of merit to Arnulf Esterer (left) at the American Wine Society’s national conference held in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Award of Merit, the organization’s highest honor, recognizes substantial and meritorious contributions to the wine industry.

As noted in the Fall 1997 of Markko Vineyard’s Gadding Vine:

“This award is gratefully accepted as recognition of the next generation of Dr. Frank cooperators in vinifera winegrowing. He gave the leadership and inspiration we all needed….Now the next generation picks up the challenge to Dr. Frank’s mission to develop, and perfect the eastern appellations to that ‘Americans…drink the best’.”

Gene Spaziani, writer for New England Wine Gazette, WineMaker Magazine, and the American Wine Society Journal, co-wrote The Home Winemaker's Companion in 2000 with Ed Halloran.