By Vicki Hillhouse

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

Washington State Wine has allocated more than $1 million for research in viticulture and enology over the next year.

The organization that represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in the state to raise awareness of the Washington wine industry has designated funds for 21 research projects for the fiscal year that starts in July.

This is the third consecutive year research funding has topped $1 million as part of the organization’s statewide wine research grant program, it announced. The purpose of the program is to improve overall wine quality by addressing vineyard and winery challenges.

Washington State Wine said vineyard projects focus on a new leaffolder moth that can defoliate Washington grapevines, powdery mildew fungicide resistance, grapevine pests and diseases, irrigation management and vine heat stress.

Winery research projects, meanwhile, include controlling wine spoilage, impact of pH on wine microbial ecology, tannin management, potential impacts on grapes and wine from smoke exposure, and sensory characteristics of wine.