CAHNRS News > Voice of the Vine

Voice of the Vine

First-gen WSU transfer student looks ahead to bright future in wine industry

WSU transfer student Hector Estrada knows that when he graduates with a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology this spring, he’ll have the work experience and knowledge necessary for a successful career in the wine industry.

Hector stands next to rows of wine barrels sitting on their sides.

Students find sun exposure affects wine taste with new Cabernets

TRI-CITIES, Wash— Sun exposure and soil temperature can affect the final flavor of wine. Students in WSU’s Viticulture & Enology program put this to the test by monitoring two Cabernet Sauvignon grape plots in the same vineyard with east and west facing slopes. The resulting wines will be bottled separately and will be available for […]

Three people stand on a dirt hill in front of a large green vineyard on a hill.

WSU researchers part of $7.6 million grant to study impact of smoke on grapes and wine

PROSSER, Wash. – Washington State University researchers are part of a team of west coast university collaborators that received a $7.6 million grant to study the impact of smoke exposure on grapes, a project that…

Portrait of Tom Collins

‘Raise a Glass, Fund a Scholarship’ program to raise funds for V&E students through December

Buy a case of wine to help WSU students and maybe check one (or more) names off your holiday gift list this year. Now through December, Chateau Ste. Michelle will donate $3 per wine case…

A young man in a black shirt holds grapes in front of the WSU Wine Science Center.

Research team working to update decades-old vineyard nutrition guidelines, improve grape tissue sampling

Vineyard soils require adequate nutrients for growing healthy grapes, but testing plants for nutrients is a cumbersome, outdated process that takes considerable time and effort. A four-year, $4.75 million Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) USDA-NIFA grant will fund a national team of researchers and extension educators to improve plant testing and fertilizer recommendations for grape […]

A young man in a blue shirt checks grapevine leaves with a woman in a hat and glasses between bright green vineyard rows.

Freshman year switch to plant science leads to Wine Spectator Student of the Year honor

Megan Meharg came to Washington State University with plans to become a veterinarian. In a freshman class that explored both animal and plant science, she realized she wanted to switch sides. “I had planned a…

A young brunette woman in a black vest poses in front of a rack of wine with a bottle of wine.

WSU students demonstrate how terrain affects wine taste with new Rieslings

PROSSER, Wash. – Small changes in vineyard location and geography can impact the flavor of wine. To test this, three Washington State University Viticulture & Enology students crafted two Riesling wines from grapes harvested on opposite sides of Lake Chelan. “We wanted to understand how climatic differences affected the growth of Riesling grapes and the […]

Green rows of grapevines fill the scene before a blue lake and blue mountains in the distance.

University students create new wine for auction to benefit WSU Viticulture & Enology

An exclusive wine created by seniors of the WSU wine science program will be available for purchase at this month’s Auction of Washington Wines Private Barrel Auction for wine traders, April 19 and 20. Currently aging in French oak barrels, the wine is a red blend featuring 60% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% […]

Voice of the Vine – March 2016

  March 2016 News The 2016 Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington is now available for free download. The Guide features updated pest and disease management calendars, and revised sections on weed management. Click here and select the PDF icon at the bottom of the page to download, or order a hard copy for $9.50. Events Spring Release Event Budd’s Broiler […]