Auction of Washington Wines (AWW) celebrated its 30^th anniversary at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, Wash. this weekend, and raised $4.19 million for Seattle Children’s Hospital and Washington State University’s (WSU) Viticulture & Enology Program. AWW not only set a record, but surpassed their goal to raise $3.5 million this year. To compound the impact of this tremendous effort, The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation announced a $1 million donation to WSU’s viticulture & enology program at the Auction of Washington Wines 30th Anniversary Gala.

http://http://www.greatnorthwestwine.com/2017/07/18/rare-leonetti-cab-vertical-goes-auction-block/

Research program cracks $1 million in awards

Industry-funded research has positive economic impact for Washington’s wine industry

SEATTLE (March 30, 2017) – The Washington State Wine Commission recommended more than $1 million dollars of viticulture and enology research funding for 2017-18 as part of the statewide wine research grant program administered by Washington State University. It’s a record amount dedicated to viticulture and enology research grant awards in Washington and will addresses vineyard and winery challenges and ultimately improve wine quality.

The increase in this year’s nearly $1,053,000 program budget—up 20 percent from last year’s $869,500—will fund 18 viticulture and enology research projects that deal with vineyard issues, such as grapevine viruses and their vectors, vineyard health impacts from soil and water quality (salinity and sodicity), irrigation water savings and efficiencies and new spray application technologies. Enology topics include tannin management, wine quality impacts from vineyard mechanization, wine spoilage and native yeast characteristics.