Washington State Wine Research Review Pt 1

Bob Larson

Washington Wine grape growers and wineries will gather in Prosser next week for the annual State Wine Commission's Research Review.

Washington State Wine Research Program Manager Melissa Hansen ...

MELISSA HANSEN ... "This is the annual research review that the Wine Commission sponsors, we host this. And, it's a really key part of the statewide wine research program because it's when all the new proposals and continuing proposals are presented to the Wine Research Advisory Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Wine Commission. And, that's the committee that is sort of the scientific review arm for the wine industry."

Hansen says the feedback they get at the Research Review gives the region's viticulture and enology program the direction it needs ...

MELISSA HANSEN ... "So, they listed all these new concepts and technologies and, you know. It's like an advertising pitch where everybody's trying to get a grant to fund their research. So, the committee reviews all this, listens to progress that's being made, as well as new proposals. And, then they meet a few weeks later to try to figure out which one's warrant grant funding from the statewide wine and grape research program."

Hansen says the research proposals are specific to the wines and growing conditions here in Washington state and it takes funding to get these projects off the ground.

Listen tomorrow for more on next week's meeting and how it could help Washington wines continue to improve.