SACRAMENTO, CA, January 26, 2022 – The sixth-annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Thomas (Tom) Davenport, a retired executive from National Grape Cooperative who has been a leader in fostering and coordinating research on state and national levels. The prestigious award […]
Projects Underway
Maybe It’s You…
As it does every December 21, this month brought the shortest, darkest day of the year. With the Omicron variant circulating, there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety out there. Around this Winter Solstice, it’s been easy to focus on the darkness. At NGRA’s End-of-Year Board Meeting, held via Zoom on November 18, 2021, we […]
A Slice of Heaven
NGRA holds three Board meetings each year, and we plan all three a year in advance. Normally, the mid-year (June/July) and end-of-year (November) meetings take place in different grape-growing regions around the country, while our first-of-year (January) meeting is always held in Sacramento, CA, where NGRA is based, the week of the Unified Wine and […]
NGRA President Appointed to USDA Research Advisory Board
Also Tapped as Advisor to Specialty Crop Committee SACRAMENTO, CA, November 5, 2021 — The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) is proud to announce that its President, Donnell Brown, is one of 14 appointees to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. As part of her […]
Don’t Be a Stranger
Yesterday, the USDA issued a press release, announcing the appointment of 14 people from across the agricultural landscape to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. All 14 were selected and appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Six members were re-appointed, and eight are new. I am one of […]
Nutrient Management Survey Reveals Industry Practices
By Dr. Patty Skinkis, Oregon State University The NGRA-initiated High-Resolution Vineyard Nutrient Management project, led by Washington State University’s Markus Keller, received second-year SCRI funding this fall. Organized to develop both sensor-based tools to measure in-field grapevine nutrient status and regional nutrition guidelines, the research will help growers to manage vineyard nutrition using precision viticulture. […]
Request for Proposals: Strategic Plan, 2022-2027
Issued October 18, 2021 Background The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, created in 2005 as an industry-led coalition to prioritize and address the research needs of the grape and wine industry. Thus, we represent the research needs for wine grapes, juice grapes, table grapes and raisins, nationwide. NGRA works collaboratively […]
Remembering Jean-Mari Peltier
This time of year, the sponsoring organizations of the Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award meet with Claudia Smith and Jason Smith, wife and son of Rich Smith, to plan the annual award honoring his legacy. It’s always a welcome opportunity for us to recall a remarkable leader and his positive impact on our industry, and […]
2022 Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award Nominations Open
2022 Nominations Accepted through October 29, 2021 Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management, Paraiso Vineyards and Smith Family Wines in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands wine region, was first and foremost a family man, and also a successful grape grower and winery owner, and a respected colleague. Through his significant and selfless contributions of time, energy […]
A Light in the Dark
August 2021 As the start of the grape harvest—typically a time of celebration—August seems to have brought a shroud of darkness. The late summer sunshine has been overshadowed by devastating flooding, deadly wildfires and extreme heat. It can be hard to find any positivity. This month, a report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on […]