(WinesandVines) - Washington’s wine industry selected 18 viticulture and enology projects for funding this year, an agenda that cracked $1 million for the first time. Chosen by the Washington State Wine Commission’s wine research advisory committee, the projects represent a range of topics from water management to wine quality and tannin management to mechanization.

Boosted by $278,000 from the annual Auction of Washington Wines, project funding was up 20% from the previous year, when $869,500 was allocated.