New York Wine & Grape Foundation

join or renew
Boldly,
cultivating.​

Research Program

Since its creation in 1985, NYWGF has sponsored an ambitious and comprehensive program in close coordination with the industry and academia. As with the promotion program, private sector funding is required to leverage the state matching funds. NYWGF’s annual research budget is normally between $350,000-$500,000 to support dozens of individual projects, mostly conducted by Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

The private sector funds come from various organizations, businesses and individuals to support the three main areas of research: viticulture (grape growing), enology (winemaking), and wine and health. The state matching funds are allocated in proportion to the respective amounts of private sector funds supporting each category.

Particularly in the case of viticulture, NYWGF’s research committee and Board of Directors solicit recommendations from the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Program, an industry committee of processors who conduct a thorough review of all proposals submitted. Once NYWGF receives their recommendations, the Foundation’s research committee makes final allocations to individual projects.

Like the promotion program, the research program is enhancing NYWGF’s overall strategic goal: “To have the New York grape and wine industry recognized as a world leader in quality, productivity, and social responsibility.”

Click here to view our 2024-2025 Funded Research Projects.

Accepting Proposals Now!

The Research Committee of the Board of Directors now welcomes new proposals for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Proposals are due by January 13th, 2025.

The full RFP, including this years research priorities, and templates for proposals, budgets, and final reports can be found at newyorkwines.org/researchers or click below.

researchers click here

Funded Research Projects

For 35 years, NYWGF has annually distributed funds to projects that provide the New York State wine and grape industry with short-term solutions and long-term strategic directions.

2025-2026 Research Reports
2024-2025 Research Reports
2023-2024 Research Reports
2022-2023 Research Reports
2021-2022 Research Reports
2020-2021 Research Reports
2019-2020 Research Reports

Market Research

The New York Wine Tourism Marketing Toolkit was created to provide practical marketing advice on how to increase visitation to tasting rooms and elevate visitors’ experience, thus making New York State a world premier wine tourism destination. The toolkit includes profiles of three potential visitor targets who exhibit a higher inclination to visit a New York winery. These profiles are coupled with recommended marketing strategies to motivate them to visit. The toolkit offers specific operational tactics that wineries and wine trails can deploy to generate greater brand loyalty from the visitor targets.

Learn More
Related News

Prescient Research on Conventional Fungicides Upends Conventional Wisdom, But Challenges Remain

August 29, 2025

In the ever-evolving world of wine and grape production, research plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge, improving practices, and ensuring the sustainability of the industry. NYWGF’s commitment to research is evident in its annual research budget, which typically ranges between $350,000 to $600,000. The NYWGF Board of Directors is proud to share the results of 2024-25 funded research projects through individual reports, articles, and a series of webinars in 2025-26.  Image of courtesy of Boundary Breaks.

New York Wine & Grape Foundation Invites Industry Input to Shape 2026-27 Research Priorities

August 15, 2025

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is calling on grape growers, winemakers, and industry partners across the state to help shape the future of research that drives innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in New York’s wine and grape industry. Each year, NYWGF’s Research Committee—comprised of members of our Board of Directors and informed by stakeholder feedback—identifies priority research themes that address the industry’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. These priorities guide the selection

Fueling the Future: New York Wine & Grape Foundation Releases 2024–2025 Research Reports Advancing New York’s Wine & Grape Industry 

August 1, 2025

NYWGF-supported research delivers actionable insights for grape growers, winemakers, and industry leaders across New York State.  Image courtesy of Rima Brindamour. The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is proud to announce the release of its 2024–2025 Research Reports, showcasing another year of cutting-edge research dedicated to advancing viticulture, enology, and wine business practices across New York State. These annual reports serve as a vital resource for growers, producers, and decision-makers navigating a rapidly