Voice of the Vine

Pixie Grape, New Research Vineyard, Upcoming

Miniature Grapevine Speeds Research Washington State University researchers are using a dwarf grapevine variety named Pixie to research potential solutions to industry problems. “This is your lab rat for the grape world,” said Amit Dhingra, assistant professor of horticultural genomics and biotechnology. “With Pixie grape, you can advance and accelerate solution delivery to the stakeholders […]

Wine in China, Grapevine Fanleaf Disease, Grapevine Moth

WSU Economists Explore the Chinese Market for Wine Economists at Washington State University are investigating ways to market Washington wine to the growing Chinese consumer market. The research consists of examining Chinese preferences for wine from different countries coupled with economic experiments, said economics professor Jill McCluskey. “It is important to understand Chinese consumers’ preferences […]

Best Paper (Yet Again!), Organic Vineyards

WSU Wine Scientists Add another Jewel to the Crown WSU scientists have a long string of Best Paper Awards from the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. And the string is getting longer. Early each year, a committee appointed by the prestigious American Society of Enology and Viticulture, which publishes the journal, reviews all the […]

The Business of Hedonism, New Videos, Chateau Ste. Michelle

The Business and Science of Hedonism by Brian Charles Clark DeLille Cellars’ master winemaker, Chris Upchurch, recently told a visiting group of WSU viticulture and enology students that he thought premium red wines could be broken into two broad categories: the really good reds are either like steak, “big, juicy and simply delicious,” or like […]

Auction Success, Grape Knowledge, AgWeatherNet

Wine Auction a Major Success Thanks to everyone who supported this year’s Celebrate Washington Wine gala fundraiser by donating to the auction, attending, and participating in the new online auction. The ninth annual dinner and auction at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville was a sellout and brought in more than $240,000 to benefit the […]

Fining Science; Energy Workshop; Wine Auction

The Fine Details: The Ability to Blend Art and Science Helps Make Great Wine When sipping a glass of a fine winemaker’s red blend in front of the fire, it’s easy to appreciate the art that went into that glass. But anyone who has tried to make wine finds him or herself quickly caught up […]

Vine Nitrogen, Women in Wine, V&E Benefit Gala, Washington Wines Top Best-of Lists

WSU Grad Student’s Research Tackles Vineyard Nitrogen Puzzle Getting the nitrogen right in wine-grape vineyards is tricky. Nitrogen is essential for plant development and growth. However, too much nitrogen applied early in the growing season may result in overly vigorous vine canopies. A thick canopy, though lovely to look at, shades the young berries and […]

The Mendoza Connection, Cold Hardiness Reloaded, Raise a Glass, The Hammer Drops

Argentinean Grad Student Puts Irrigation Research to the Test When Daniela Romero heard WSU’s Markus Keller talking about irrigation during grape ripening, her curiosity was piqued. After all, applying water close to harvest time was simply not done. Keller was teaching a grape physiology course at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza, deep in […]

Virus Fighters, Research Vineyard, Wine Tasting, Auction

Iraq War Vet Comes Home to Wine Country “The U.S. Army is a 200-plus-year-old organization,” said WSU viticulture and enology student Andrew Schultz. “They know something about leadership and teamwork. That’s why I served.” The former radar operations sergeant served in the Army for four years, including 16 months in Iraq, before returning to civilian […]

Berry Shrivel, Fining, Tasting, Wine Auction

Beating the Berry Shrivel Blues The bright sunny days and cool nights of autumn so perfect for ripening wine grapes in Washington may also be fostering a vineyard villain — berry shrivel, according to Markus Keller, Chateau Ste. Michelle Distinguished Professor of Viticulture at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center at Prosser. Characterized by […]