Viticulture and enology researchers will present proposals and updates.
SEATTLE (December 2, 2016) – The Washington State Wine Commission will hold the annual Research Review on January 18-19, 2017, at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington. The meeting is open to members of Washington State’s wine industry.
The review, which is part of the Washington State Grape and Wine Research Program, gives viticulture and enology researchers seeking grant funding a chance to share results of ongoing projects and pitch new proposals to the Wine Research Advisory Committee. The committee serves as the scientific review arm for the Washington wine industry and makes research project funding recommendations to the Wine Commission’s board of directors for approval.
More than 20 viticulture and enology research projects totaling almost $1.4 million were considered by the committee during the 2016 review. Thirteen projects representing nearly $870,000 were approved for fiscal year 2017 that began July 1.
“We welcome industry members to attend the Research Review and learn how current research addresses viticulture and enology issues,” said Rick Hamman, chair of the Wine Research Advisory Committee. “We want to shine the light on the Washington wine industry’s research program and have growers and winemakers hear firsthand the direction that research is headed.”
Funding for the Grape and Wine Research Program comes from four sources to represent a unique blend of state, industry, and private support. Each source—the Washington State Wine Commission, Auction of Washington Wines, Washington State University’s Agriculture Research Center, and state sales tax on all wine sold—provides about 25 percent of the total spent on research.
