The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is now accepting research proposals for the 2027-28 program year, inviting researchers to take on the challenges New York’s grape growers and winemakers say matter most. Proposals for projects to be funded between April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028 are due Monday, January 18, 2027. 

The call follows a strong year for the Research Program. NYWGF’s 2025-26 portfolio, released in June, included new work on spotted lanternfly management, sustainable alternatives as broad-spectrum fungicides face regulatory scrutiny, canned wine quality, and more. Those projects were funded to address priorities identified by the industry. To learn more about past research reports, visit newyorkwines.org/industry/research.  

NYWGF’s annual research budget of $350,000-$500,000 supports a diverse portfolio of projects conducted in partnership with organizations like Cornell AgriTech and the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab. This year’s priorities were shaped by feedback from growers, winemakers, and industry partners through NYWGF’s annual research survey, then finalized by the Research Committee of the NYWGF Board of Directors. 

“The strongest research proposals start with a real problem from a real vineyard or winery,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director of NYWGF. “Our priorities come straight from the people who farm, make, and sell New York wine and grape products, and this call for proposals is how we turn their feedback into answers. We encourage researchers to look closely at what the industry is asking for and bring us their best ideas.” 

“As growers and winery owners, we face challenges every day that directly affect the health of our vineyards, the quality of our wines, and the long-term sustainability of our businesses,” said Matt Doyle, Chair of the NYWGF Research Committee. “Research is most valuable when it addresses those real-world challenges and gives us practical tools to make better decisions. Our goal is to support research that doesn’t just produce information but creates solutions that strengthen New York’s grape and wine industry for generations to come.” 

What NYWGF Is Looking For 

Priorities for 2027-28 span four areas. The full descriptions are available in the RFP. 

• Viticulture: Disease and pest management, including invasive species such as spotted lanternfly and spotted-wing drosophila; mechanization and precision agriculture; sustainability; vineyard floor and weed management; and grape cultivars and clones 

• Enology: Cultivar and clone evaluation, sustainable winemaking, wine quality from hybrid and native grapes, wine analysis, and wine microbiology 

• Business Development: Evolving consumer preferences, customer awareness, technology advances, and customer acceptance of cold-hardy hybrid and native grape wines 

• Other: Non-fermented, value-added grape products, including uses for grape processing byproducts 

How Proposals Are Evaluated 

The Research Committee scores proposals on whether the project aligns with industry priorities, delivers an important impact regionally or statewide, builds on previous research without duplicating it, uses sound and current methods, and has a feasible work-plan and budget. 

Submission Details 

• Deadline: Monday, January 18, 2027, submitted electronically to research@nywgf.org 

• Required materials: Written proposal in the NYWGF Proposal Format, five-minute video summary in plain language (MP4, 720p), letters of support (if applicable), disclosure of any additional funding, and a detailed budget 

• Researcher Q&A session with the Research Committee: Wednesday, February 10, 2027 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Cornell AgriTech’s Jordan Hall Auditorium in Geneva, NY, with a hybrid Zoom option available. 

• Final reports: Due April 15, 2028 

The full RFP, along with proposal, budget, and final report templates, is available at newyorkwines.org/industry/research/researchers.