Washington State wine grape growers and wineries are invited the Washington State Wine Commission’s annual Research Review on January 18-19, 2018 at the Clore Center in Prosser, Washington, to provide feedback on the research proposals presented at the review.

The Research Review, a key component of the statewide viticulture and enology research grant program, gives scientists opportunity to share results of ongoing projects and pitch new proposals to the Wine Research Advisory Committee. The Committee, a subcommittee of the Wine Commission, serves as the scientific review arm for the Washington wine industry and makes research grant funding recommendations to the Wine Commission’s board of directors for approval.

Nearly 25 continuing and final reports and new proposals, covering topics from pest management, irrigation and water and soil quality to wine spoilage, impacts from mechanization on wine quality and tannin management, will be presented over the two days. Lunch and a wine social are included the first day.

The Washington State Grape and Wine Research Program grants are funded through a unique blend of state, industry and private supports. For fiscal year 2018, funds from the Washington State Wine Commission, Auction of Washington Wines, Washington State University’s Agriculture Research Center and state taxes collected from all wine sold in Washington provided more than $1 million for 18 research grants awarded through the program.

Feedback from industry will be collected during the Review as a way to increase industry involvement and bring transparency to the research program. Growers and wineries attending will be asked to rank research proposals by their importance. The Wine Research Advisory Committee will consider the feedback when the Committee makes its grant funding recommendations.

There is no charge for the meeting but pre-registration is required. Registration closes on January 12, 2018. Pesticide certification credits have been requested. For more information, contact the Washington State Wine Commission Research Program Manager Melissa Hansen at: mhansen@washingtonwine.org.