Wine Research Funding Pt2

Wine Research Funding Pt2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Wine research in Washington state is getting another big infusion of funding for 2018-19 projects. The Washington Wine Commission's Melissa Hansen says the grape and wine research program in our state is unique and unlike that of any other state ...

HANSEN ... "Because we're able to blend industry funds, and that's through the Wine Commission, so all growers and all wineries are helping to pay for some of this research. And then we have some state dollars, every bottle of wine that's sold in the state, a quarter cent per liter, as part of the excise taxes that the state collects, they send a quarter cent per liter to WSU for viticulture-enology research. So, it's not just Washington wine that's paying for that, but all wines."

Hansen says they also get funds from private sources ...

HANSEN ... "The Auction of Washington Wine, which is an annual event, WSU, they're Viticulture and Enology research is one of the beneficiaries. So, Seattle's Children Hospital gets some of the money, but so does the industry, it comes back through WSU, which is just a very unique partnership."

And, just like the industry, the funding continues to grow ...

HANSEN ... "And if you look back, you know, five years ago, we're spending 30 percent more now for research funding than they did just a few years ago. So, that allows you to fund a really diverse portfolio of projects.

Starting in July, work begins on 17 projects in the statewide wine research grant program administered by WSU to improve wine quality by addressing both vineyard and winery challenges.

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