Oregon Wine Board awards more than $350,000 for Industry Research Grants

For Immediate Release

Oregon Wine Board awards more than $350,000 for Industry Research Grants

Funding supports six scientific research projects beginning July 1

Portland, OR, May 29, 2025 – The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) is pleased to announce the award of more than $350,000 to fund six scientific research projects in its 2026 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2025. Five of the awards support the continuation of ongoing research projects, with one new project added to the slate. While OWB welcomes applications from all research institutions, the 2025-26 awardees are all affiliated with Oregon State University (OSU), either at its primary campus in Corvallis or the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC) in Central Point.

The OWB’s 45-member Research Committee, comprised of viticulturists and winemakers from around the state, reviewed 21 applications in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued this past winter. The RFP reflected OWB’s strategic research aim of championing the continuous improvement of Oregon’s capacity to produce world-class wines. The Committee assessed applications for scientific strength and relevance as defined within four strategic pillars: Wine Quality, Sustainable Production, Changing Climate, and Foundational Research.

“The research projects recommended by the Research Committee and approved by the Oregon Wine Board of Directors represent an ongoing commitment to help Oregon’s wine industry address issues in a timely manner,” said Dr. Greg Jones, who chairs both the Oregon Wine Board and its Research Committee.

With Oregon grape growers facing changing growing conditions, the majority of the funded research focuses on viticultural practices. Two projects work to better understand and combat the potential impacts from Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV)—one aims to increase the vine’s immune defense system, and the other investigates GRBV insect vectors.  Another study looks to control the harmful grape mealybug pest without the use of chemicals. In addition, two projects address rootstocks and water issues, one in Southern Oregon where irrigation is a given but where supply of water is challenging, and one in the Willamette Valley pertaining to the suitability of rootstocks to different growing conditions and farming practices. The sixth project is enology-focused and investigates the implications of malolactic fermentation timing and bacteria strain on Pinot noir chemical and sensory properties.

Details for the six awarded projects are as follows:

• Developing an RNAi topical application to combat Grapevine Red Blotch Disease. Project year 3 of 3. Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Laurent Deluc, OSU Department of Botany and Plant Pathology

• Investigating Vectors and Rootstock-Dependent Latency of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus. Project year 1 of 3. Lead PI Dr. Robert Orpet, OSU Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC)

• Biorational Control of Mealybugs in Vineyards. Project year 2 of 3. Principal Investigator Dr. Vaughn Walton, OSU Department of Horticulture

• Field Evaluation of Drought Tolerant Rootstocks Using Stable Isotopes. Project year 3 of 3. Principal Investigator Dr. Alexander Levin, OSU SOREC Department of Horticulture

• Understanding Rootstock Impacts on Pinot Noir Vine Balance and Fruit Chemistry. Project year 2 of 3. PI Dr. Patricia Skinkis, OSU Department of Horticulture
• Is timing everything? The consequences of malolactic fermentation timing on the chemical and sensory properties of Pinot noir wine. Project year 2 of 2. PI Dr. James Osborne, OSU Department of Food Science and Technology

“The OWB is proud to work with these researchers in helping to address issues in viticulture and enology that reduce vulnerability and increase our adaptive capacity,” added Jones.

Brief overviews of the funded projects can be found on OWB’s website.

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About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research, and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. To learn more, visit industry.oregonwine.org.