Grower and winemaker feedback will help inform NYWGF’s research funding priorities for next year
September 14, 2026 — The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is calling on grape growers, winemakers, and industry partners across the state to help shape the future of research that drives innovation, sustainability, and evolution in New York’s wine and grape industry.
Each year, NYWGF’s Research Committee identifies priority research themes that address the industry’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. These priorities guide the selection of funded projects in viticulture, enology, business development, and other specialized areas, supported by NYWGF’s Research Program.
The Research Program is valuable because growers and winemakers show up for it. A vineyard manager wrestling with an invasive pest, a winery owner rethinking their approach to sustainability, a producer trying to reach the next generation of wine drinkers – every one of those on-the-ground realities is exactly what helps shape where NYWGF puts its research dollars. The survey takes just a few minutes, and the impact runs for a full program year.
“Our Research Program only succeeds when it reflects the real-world needs of our growers and wineries,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director of NYWGF. “The challenges facing New York’s vineyards and wineries don’t sit still. Pests move in, markets shift, consumer expectations change, and our research portfolio must move with them. Hearing critical input from the industry helps us dictate the research we are able to fund. This is your seat at the table.”
Proposed Priority Research Themes for FY27-28
Viticulture
- Disease & pest management, including invasive species: sustainable materials and techniques that minimize resistance and build climate resilience, including response to spotted-wing drosophila and spotted lanternfly
- Vineyard floor and weed management: strategies to reduce energy and herbicide use
- Mechanization and precision agriculture: labor-saving, affordable canopy management technology
- Sustainability: efficient nutrient use, long-term soil health, and water quality
- Grape cultivars and clones: viticultural performance evaluation across New York’s diverse regions
Enology
- Grape cultivars and clones: quality wine potential from new cultivars and clones
- Wine quality: improving wine from interspecific hybrid and native grape cultivars
- Sustainability: wastewater management, energy reduction, and carbon neutrality
- Wine microbiology: regional microbiomes, bioprotection, and fermentation nutrition
- Wine analysis: faster, more efficient analytical methods for production use
Business Development
- Evolving consumer preferences: reaching Millennial, Gen X, and Gen Z consumers through authenticity, sustainability, and experiential marketing
- Technology advances: tools to streamline operations and improve marketing, sales, compliance, and efficiency
- Customer acceptance: strategies to build acceptance of cold-hardy hybrid and native grape varieties
- Customer awareness: strategies to increase awareness of the diversity and quality of New York wines
Other
- Non-fermented value-added grape products: sustainable, health-forward uses for grape processing byproducts
- Newsletters: including Veraison to Harvest
Survey responses must be submitted by Friday, October 2, 2026. For the full list of proposed research themes and to submit your feedback, please visit: form.jotform.com/newyorkwines/2027-28-research-themes-survey
Once finalized, the FY27-28 research priorities will be published in NYWGF’s Request for Proposals, which will be released to the wine and grape research community in late December. Learn more about NYWGF’s Research Program at newyorkwines.org/industry/research/.
