NY Wine and Grape Foundation Seeks Industry Input for 2026

By Blake Jackson

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is inviting grape growers, winemakers, and industry partners from across the state to share their input on research priorities that will shape the future of New York’s wine and grape sector.

Each year, NYWGF’s Research Committee made up of Board members and guided by industry feedback establishes key themes to address the industry’s most urgent challenges and promising opportunities. These priorities form the foundation for selecting funded projects in viticulture, enology, business development, and other specialised areas.

By completing a short survey, stakeholders have the chance to directly influence how NYWGF allocates research funding for the 2026-27 program year.

The projects funded will focus on practical solutions, with potential themes including vineyard sustainability, improved wine quality, pest control, and adapting to consumer preferences.

“Our Research Program only succeeds when it reflects the real-world needs of our growers and wineries,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director of NYWGF. “Industry input is critical to ensuring that we fund the most relevant, actionable, and forward-thinking projects. This is your opportunity to help determine where those investments are made.”

Proposed research themes under review for FY26-27 include:

• Viticulture: Innovative disease and pest control, vineyard floor and weed management, mechanisation, soil health, sustainable nutrient use, and testing of new cultivars and clones.
• Enology: Enhancing wine quality from hybrid and native grapes, sustainable winery practices, advanced microbiology, and efficient testing methods.
• Business Development: Understanding Millennial and Gen Z consumer trends, adopting technology to improve operations, and expanding awareness of New York wine’s quality and diversity.
• Other Areas: Exploring new value-added products, including sustainable uses for grape byproducts.

The survey is open until Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Finalised priorities will be announced in NYWGF’s Request for Proposals, expected in late December.

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