Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University

Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University, Educational Research Center, 3051 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR.

We support Oregon’s wine industry by conducting collaborative, multidisciplinary research, fostering partnerships, and sharing knowledge and tools with growers and winemakers for the sustainable, long term success of Oregon wine. The Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University is a comprehensive, fully-integrated program dedicated to addressing the research and education needs of Oregon’s wine industry.

In this month’s newsletter, hear from Dr. James Sterns, who just returned from the 18th Annual Conference of the America...
08/24/2026

In this month’s newsletter, hear from Dr. James Sterns, who just returned from the 18th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists in Perth. Plus, significant expansions to the OSU Smoke, Wine and Grape Analytical Chemistry lab. Click the link in our bio to learn about the chemical analysis options available now for the Oregon wine industry and beyond.

Please join us on Wednesday, August 19, at 11 a.m. for Nicholas Mannino’s thesis presentation, Malolactic Fermentation a...
08/10/2026

Please join us on Wednesday, August 19, at 11 a.m. for Nicholas Mannino’s thesis presentation, Malolactic Fermentation as a Design Variable: Effects of Timing, Strain, and Nutrient Context on Oregon Pinot Noir Chemistry and Sensory Properties. Nick’s research, under the guidance of Dr. James Osborne, combines practical winemaking, analytical chemistry, sensory science, and statistical analysis to evaluate malolactic fermentation as a tool for shaping Pinot noir wine style. Nick has presented elements of this work at the 2025 and 2026 ASEV national conferences, ACS Spring Symposium and OWRI Grape Day 2026.

Nick’s presentation will take place in Withycombe 187 with a live Zoom option available. Message or email [email protected] for Zoom details.

Small Farm School offers small-scale grape growers and agricultural producers a full day of hands-on workshops and techn...
08/06/2026

Small Farm School offers small-scale grape growers and agricultural producers a full day of hands-on workshops and technical classroom sessions led by university specialists and industry experts.

This year’s curriculum addresses core operational needs:
Soil building and water stewardship
Equipment applications for small-acreage systems
Business strategies and market development
Crop production and management updates
Class offerings change with every edition of the event, providing fresh insights for both first-time attendees and past participants.

Explore course descriptions and reserve your place at beav.es/smallfarmschool

In the July 2026 edition of Vine to Wine, Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino shares insight into the complexities of sensory thresho...
07/20/2026

In the July 2026 edition of Vine to Wine, Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino shares insight into the complexities of sensory thresholds: the wine matrix effect and how wine composition changes what you can smell in the glass.

Read on ➡️The full newsletter is available at the link in bio (if you’re subscribed, it’s already waiting in your inbox!)

[From Dr. Achala KC, Dr. Patty Skinkis, and Anupa Gaire] Plants infected with Botryosphaeria die back pathogens release ...
07/01/2026

[From Dr. Achala KC, Dr. Patty Skinkis, and Anupa Gaire]

Plants infected with Botryosphaeria die back pathogens release spores in winter, and these spores land on grapevine pruning wounds, causing infection. Over time, the spores colonize the vine’s vascular tissues and move to cordons and trunks. Since pruning wounds are the primary infection point for many grapevine trunk disease pathogens, protecting the wounds is essential. The wounds remain susceptible for weeks or even months after pruning, so understanding how long pruning wound protectants remain effective is critical for disease prevention.

Our research shows that products such as Topsin, Vitiseal, and Rally effectively reduced Dothiorella iberica infection (a pathogen that causes Botryosphaeria dieback) when vines were pruned in February. However, a practical question followed: How long can these fungicides remain effective on pruning wounds given the longer susceptibility of wounds and frequent winter rains in the Pacific Northwest?

Read the research & results in the latest OWRI newsletter, or at the link in the comment below.

Last year, we welcomed nine highly motivated undergraduate students as OWRI-EFF Undergraduate Research Scholars for the ...
06/26/2026

Last year, we welcomed nine highly motivated undergraduate students as OWRI-EFF Undergraduate Research Scholars for the 2025–2026 academic year. Thanks to the generous support of the Erath Family Foundation, these students have spent the past year gaining hands-on research experience, partnering directly with our scientists to prepare for future careers in viticulture, enology, and agricultural research.
Over the next few months, we will share updates on their projects and experiences (written by the students, of course).

First up is Carolyn Crofford, a Bioresource Research and Sustainability major.

Carolyn joined Dr. Walt Mahaffee’s foliar pathology lab (USDA-ARS) to research Erysiphe necator (the persistent fungal causal agent of grape powdery mildew). Because a mere 3% disease incidence in grape clusters can lead to crop rejection, understanding how this fungus develops tolerance to common DMI fungicides is vital for growers. Carolyn used specialized fluorescent microscopy to track cellular sterols during spore germination to see how the fungus adapts.

Beyond the laboratory skills, this experience gave Carolyn the project management and workflow skills for academic success. Carolyn hopes to expand this work into an undergraduate thesis and plans for a career in plant pathology.

Read Carolyn’s full scholar report in the June issue of Vine to Wine at the link in bio.

Oregon State was well represented at the ASEV national conference in Boise last week. We are thrilled to share that grad...
06/24/2026

Oregon State was well represented at the ASEV national conference in Boise last week. We are thrilled to share that graduate student Grace Lilly, from the Skinkis lab, was awarded the Best Viticulture Poster Award for her presentation on the nitrogen dynamics of Pinot noir rootstocks. Grace also delivered an excellent Flash Talk during the sessions. Congratulations to Grace, as well as Nick Mannino, in the Osborne lab, and Jillian Thrall, recent graduate with the Tomasino lab, for their outstanding presentations and research contributions at this year’s conference.

The June edition of the OWRI newsletter, Vine to Wine, is now available in your inbox and on our website. This month, we...
06/24/2026

The June edition of the OWRI newsletter, Vine to Wine, is now available in your inbox and on our website. This month, we share updates on critical grape entomology projects at SOREC, recent field trial data regarding the longevity of trunk disease pruning wound protectants, and a three-year study on vineyard magnesium decisions.

June is graduation season! We’re celebrating several recent Oregon State graduates who have been integral contributors to enology and viticulture projects. Finally, you’ll find the first of our 2025 OWRI-Erath Family Foundation Undergraduate Research Scholar reports, by Carolyn Crofford in the Mahaffee lab.

Read the full newsletter for these updates, timely Extension resources, and more. Linked in comments below.

05/19/2026

Congratulations to James Osborne on receiving the American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s Anita Oberholster Award for Extension Excellence!

As director of the Oregon Wine Research Institute, Osborne has made a lasting impact through research, outreach and education that supports Oregon’s wine industry and winemakers across the state. This national recognition highlights his dedication to connecting science with real-world application and advancing the future of enology. 🍷👏

Oregon Wine Research Institute- Oregon State University

Please FRET! As in, Use Forecasted Reference ET to irrigate ahead of heat events.Can forecasted reference evapotranspira...
05/06/2026

Please FRET! As in, Use Forecasted Reference ET to irrigate ahead of heat events.

Can forecasted reference evapotranspiration help Oregon growers irrigate more effectively ahead of heat waves? A newly funded project at Oregon State University is putting that question to the test. While traditional irrigation scheduling relies on backward-looking ET estimates, the National Weather Service's Forecasted Reference ET (FRET) tool offers a forward-looking alternative—estimating short-term future evaporative demand.
A 2025 pilot trial in the Willamette Valley compared FRET to conventional ET scheduling at two application rates. Though not statistically significant, FRET consistently trended toward reduced vine water stress (5.8% less negative stem water potential) and higher stomatal conductance (17.4%) at equivalent water application rates.
Beginning this year, the project will expand to three commercial vineyards across the Willamette and Rogue Valleys to evaluate whether this free, public tool can improve irrigation timing, vine water status, and fruit composition under real-world deficit irrigation conditions.

(Photo by Molly Bailey)

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3051 SW Campus Way
Corvallis, OR
97331

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