On this day, August 28 (and the next) in 2003, the National Grape Research Alliance was born. The organization didn’t have a name yet. It wasn’t even an organization yet. It was just a two-day meeting of 20 wine industry representatives and academics from UC Davis, concerned about what was then considered a crisis of […]
Projects Underway
The Truth Is Out There
This month, the NGRA Research Theme Committees began their brainstorming and prioritization process, each with the goal of coming up with one or two ideas that can be progressed into actual research projects. As we dig into the exercise, generating input on industry-needed research, one theme has become bracingly clear. As a community, collectively, we know very […]
Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award Nominations Open
2021 Nominations Accepted through October 30, 2020 Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management, Paraiso Vineyards and Smith Family Wines in California’s Monterey wine region was first and foremost a family man, and also a successful grape grower and winery owner, and respected colleague. Through his significant and selfless contributions of time, energy and funds […]
Counting Our Blessings, Missing Our Chocolate-Covered Raisins
As with many meetings and events in our current pandemic culture, the NGRA Mid-Year Board meeting on June 19 was held entirely via Zoom. We typically offer remote meeting access for Board Directors who can’t attend in person. This was the first time the whole meeting was conducted online. It was fine, but… Because of […]
There’s a Little Curie in All of Us
If you know NGRA Board member Vicky Scharlau, who leads Washington Winegrowers, you know she “calls a spade a spade.” So, when she posts her “new favorite quote” on social media, you listen. What she shared was this: “Now is the time to understand more, so that we can fear less,” by Marie Curie. Certainly, […]
Han Had Yoda. We Have Our Science Advisory Council
We all need someone we can go to for wise and insightful counsel, and straight talk on how to achieve our goals. Han Solo had Yoda. Rocky Balboa had Mickey. NGRA has our Science Advisory Council. The Council was formed in 2019 as a way to formalize our relationship with some of our longest-standing technical […]
Appropriations Request for Grape Genetics Research
Spring 2020 Background The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) is charged with advancing world-class grape genetics research in the U.S., through its units in Parlier, CA (grape breeding), Geneva, NY (grape genomics and gene expression). Geneva and Winters, CA, also are home to a collection of critical grape germplasm, that collectively serve […]
Appropriations Request for Disease Detection with Dogs
Spring 2020 Background Dr. Tim Gottwald, Research Leader/Plant Epidemiologist, at the USDA-ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, FL, has been studying the use of canine “technology” for disease detection in citrus since 2017. The exceedingly high levels of success Dr. Gottwald and his USDA team have shown with dogs in the early detection […]
Grape Research Goes on Hold
The COVID-19 pandemic will certainly have far-reaching impacts on the world, including the volume and pace of research and to the scientists whose careers depend on collaborating on, conducting and publishing research. As states and municipalities issued shelter-in-place orders this month, one by one, industry and academic conferences were canceled. Government agencies and universities closed […]
NGRA Research Committee Refresh: Got Nominations?
The NGRA Research Committee is critical to the mission of our organization. Its members participate actively in the process by which we identify and prioritize industry needs for research and actively work to assemble teams of scientists to develop projects and acquire funding to get that research done. And this committee is about to see […]