10 FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com
W
ashington's wine industry is stepping
up its research investment in wine
and grape research in a big way.
The Washington Wine Commission
has already significantly increased
research funding from past years, but now it's develop-
ing a plan that will lay the foundation for a comprehen-
sive, first-ever research program. The
commission hired Vicky Scharlau, 501
Consultants, to develop a five-year plan.
"I'm very excited about the future of
research for Washington's wine indus-
try," said Steve Warner, president of the
Wine Commission. "Research is one of
the main pillars of an industry."
First research
program in
the works
Viticulture
Wine Commission will
spend $250K on research
this year.
Melissa Hansen
"We needed the
stability before we
could sustain
a 20- to 40-year
commitment that's
needed when funding
research."
—Steve Warner
