Convening extension leaders to advance research, innovation, and industry resilience
May 19, 2026 (Sacramento, CA) — The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) convened viticulture and enology extension and outreach professionals from across the country at the 2026 National Viticulture and Enology Extension Leadership Community (NVEELC) Conference, April 20-22 in San Antonio, Texas. It was the 20th anniversary of the grassroots event, ongoingly supported by NGRA as a key forum for extension and outreach leaders to collaborate, share best practices, and strengthen their collective impact on the U.S. grape and wine industry.
Hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the conference gathered V&E extension and outreach personnel whose experience in their roles ranged from eight months to 41 years. NVEELC participants consistently report immense value in meeting and learning from colleagues in a role where intense, on-the-job training is common.
“In today’s environment, extension isn’t just about delivering information, it’s about building trust, adapting to change, and helping the industry navigate complexity,” said Donnell Brown, president of NGRA. “NVEELC equips leaders with the tools and connections to do exactly that.”
Centered on the theme “Meeting Stakeholders Where They Are,” NVEELC 2026 featured interactive networking sessions, a tour of innovative vineyards and wineries throughout the Texas Hill Country, and professional development programming designed to help extension professionals remain relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving industry. Participants explored emerging tools and strategies, from advances in communication and outreach to the growing role of artificial intelligence, while exchanging insights on how to better serve growers, winemakers, and industry stakeholders nationwide.
“NVEELC is where the people responsible for translating science into real-world impact come together,” Brown added. “If we want research to matter, we have to meet growers and industry partners where they are and that starts with strong, connected extension leadership.”
The in-person conference is part of an ongoing cadence of extension programming occurring every two years. NGRA hosts quarterly Zoom meetings featuring themes focused on best practices, collaboration and professional development, chosen by and for the community of practice. Quarterly virtual meetings will resume this fall. The next NVEELC Conference will be held in Oregon in 2028.
NVEELC underscores NGRA’s broader mission to align national research priorities and ensure that scientific advancements reach the people who need them most. As the only organization coordinating grape research and extension across all sectors—wine, table grapes, juice, and raisins, nationwide—NGRA continues to play a critical role in advancing sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness across U.S. grape production.
NVEELC is part of NGRA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening extension networks nationwide and supporting the professionals who bridge the gap between research and application. The 2026 conference builds on this effort by fostering collaboration across regions and disciplines, ensuring that innovation in grape research translates into meaningful outcomes in vineyards and wineries across the country.
For more information about NGRA and its programs, visit graperesearch.org. To stay up to date on the latest research initiatives, industry insights, and events, sign up for the NGRA monthly newsletter here. To support this work, donate to NGRA here.
About the National Grape Research Alliance
The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) is a nonprofit membership organization that advances the research needs of all sectors and all regions of the American grape and wine industry, spanning wine, table grapes, juice, and raisins, nationwide. We connect industry, academic scientists, and federal and state research agencies to initiate novel research projects and programs to solve industry challenges together. Since our founding in 2005, we’ve been instrumental in securing $65 million in funding for scientific solutions to grape and wine industry issues. Learn more at graperesearch.org.
