On April 7-10, NVEELC 2019 gathered 40 extension and outreach specialists from 16 states and 30 grape-growing regions in Fredericksburg, the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Hailing from New York to New Mexico and many states in between and beyond, attendees represented a terrific mix of viticulture and enology professionals—some who are newer to […]
Projects Underway
Efficient Vineyard: Making Sense of Sensors
By Dr. Terry Bates, Cornell AgriTech, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University The end goal for the SCRI Efficient Vineyard (EV) project is to achieve “spatial-data-driven variable-rate vineyard crop-load management.” It is a mouthful of a statement! Basically, it means that we gather spatial data from sensors, translate it into information, calibrate it against […]
Learning the Language
In a few days, on April 3, I will be celebrating my two-year anniversary with the National Grape Research Alliance. In my time with NGRA, a lot has changed—our name, most apparently. I’ve changed, too. As most NGRA stakeholders know, I don’t have a science background. My degrees are in psychology and English. I’ve worked […]
New Vice Chair, Officers and Board Representatives Elected
NATIONAL GRAPE RESEARCH ALLIANCE ELECTS NEW VICE CHAIR Officers and Board Representatives Elected at Annual Meeting SACRAMENTO, CA, February 11, 2019 – The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) held its Annual Meeting of Members on January 28, 2019, electing Vice Chair Tom Smith (shown here) of E. & J. Gallo Winery to succeed outgoing Vice […]
Jerry Lohr Receives 2019 Rich Smith Award
At the annual Leadership Luncheon of the Winegrape Growers of America (WGA), held in Sacramento on January 30, 2019, Jerry Lohr was honored with the third-annual Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award. NGRA is pleased to collaborate with WGA, WineAmerica and the Smith Family to bestow the award, given in the name of the late Rich […]
2018: A very good vintage
The National Grape Research Alliance did and achieved a lot in the last 12 months. As the year winds down, we thought we’d share a snapshot of how, with the support of our members nationwide, NGRA helped to advance research to support and improve the U.S. grape and wine industry in 2018, and into 2019 […]
Farm Bill 2018 Passed
On December 20, 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (a.k.a. the Farm Bill) was signed into law and will remain in effect for the next five years. WineAmerica was one of the many specialty crop organizations fighting for a robust bill. As Jim Trezise, WineAmerica President and NGRA Board member, says, “The Farm Bill is a massive […]
November, But Still No Farm Bill
Congress adjourned for the November 6, 2018, mid-term elections without passing a Farm Bill. While it is widely anticipated that they will return after the elections for a lame duck session, it is uncertain whether they will be able to resolve their differences and reauthorize a Farm Bill. Of note are the 39 orphaned programs […]
Portrait of the Perfect Grapevine: Industry Survey of Desirable Traits
If you could grow the perfect grapevine, what would it be or do? What would its fruit be or look like? How would it perform throughout the season, given your climate, soil and labor availability? Essentially, these were the dreams grape and wine industry representatives were asked to entertain when surveyed about the most desirable […]
Call for Nominations: Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award
HONOR A COLLEAGUE AND A LEGEND The late Richard (Rich) Smith of Paraiso Vineyards and Smith Family Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands of California was first and foremost a family man, and also a successful grape grower, winery owner and respected colleague. Before his passing in 2015, through his significant and selfless contributions of time, energy […]