A recent KXAN Austin news story featured the collaboration between students in the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) Supra Sensors stream (Research Educator (RE), Dr. Diana Zamora-Olivares and Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Eric Anslyn) and Fall Creek Vineyards in Texas Hill Country to apply advanced chemical sensing technology, described as an “X-ray for wines”, to real-world winemaking.
In the lab, FRI undergraduates analyze grape, leaf, and wine samples to generate detailed chemical profiles. The research goals stem from technology originally developed in Dr. Anslyn’s lab in the Department of Chemistry to detect wine fraud, which now can also be applied to assess pesticide exposure, predict aging potential, and uncover the unique influences of Texas terroir, advancing the state’s wine industry.
The collaboration is a part of the UT Wine Initiative, giving freshmen early hands-on research experience while supporting industry innovation. This partnership was also highlighted this year at the Texas Science Festival with an event blending science talk, tastings, and vineyard tour at Fall Creek.
