(Wines&Vines) - Washington's wine industry continues investment in research at science center

Prosser, Wash.—Washington’s wine industry believed so much in the importance of having a wine science center focused on research that would address local needs, it pledged $7.4 million through the Washington State Wine Commission toward its construction. 

But when the wine commission pays the last instalment next spring, support from the state's industry won’t stop.

 Instead, the commission will simply channel its support toward research at the center, topping up the allocation it already makes to a statewide grape and wine research grant program Washington State University administers. 

The statewide grant program has funded more than $1 million worth of research projects in each of the past two years, a 30% increase over five years ago. Program funding comes from a mix of private and public sources as well as the annual Auction of Washington Wines, and includes $225,000 from the wine commission. All going well, commission funding will rise significantly in the next fiscal year, boosting support for research.