Survey input helps drive state’s research program direction and guide event planning
Seattle, WA (January 6, 2025) —The annual Research Survey for Washington’s wine industry is now open. This year, the Washington State Wine Commission and the Washington Wine Technical Group have combined efforts to reduce duplication in the number of industry surveys. The questionnaire seeks feedback from wine grape growers, wineries, and other industry members to help identify research priorities and top industry challenges.
Input from the survey is a key component of the industry-driven, viticulture and enology research program in Washington. Industry feedback guides the annual reevaluation of priorities by the Wine Research Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Washington State Wine Commission. The priority list is used by scientists to develop research proposals and helps ensure that research projects address important needs specific to Washington’s wine industry. Technical challenges identified in the survey will guide the Washington Wine Technical Group’s event planning and focus for the year.
Viticulture and enology research for Washington’s wine industry is funded primarily through two grant programs. Last year, more than $1M was awarded through the research grant programs. The Washington State Grape and Wine Research Program awards research grants to scientists at Washington State University and is funded by Washington State University, the Washington State Wine Commission, Auction of Washington Wines and state taxes collected on all wine sold. The Washington Wine Commission also awards research grants through its own grant program to scientists outside of WSU.
Past research projects have resulted in reducing pesticide use by up to 80 percent, saving irrigation water by up to 50 percent in red varieties, identifying powdery mildew resistance to fungicides, developing a cold hardiness model to help manage cold events, improving tannin management for winemaking, improving overall wine quality, and more.
All Washington wine industry members involved with technical issues and challenges and who utilize viticulture and enology research are asked to participate in the short survey.
About the Washington State Wine Commission:
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness about the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. Learn more at www.washingtonwine.org.
RESEARCH INQUIRIES:
Melissa Hansen, Research Program Director, Washington Wine
(206) 669-7127 / mhansen@washingtonwine.org
GENERAL INQUIRIES:
Heather Bradshaw, Communications Director, Washington Wine
(206) 495-5844 / hbradshaw@washingtonwine.org
