Napa Wineries, Growers Pledge $2.5M to Red Blotch Research

Winegrowers and wineries have pledged $2.5 million to launch Phase One of the Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Research Initiative, a public-private collaboration created to accelerate practical research into Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV).

GRBV is one of the most serious unresolved threats facing wine production. The virus can impair vine performance, delay fruit ripening, alter grape composition, and diminish wine quality with associated increases in management costs and replanting. These issues are worsened by the fact that winegrowers lack early detection methods and proven field strategies to limit spread and manage affected vines.

Research priorities

The first competitive calls for proposals will focus on:

• Earlier, more reliable detection and diagnostic methods
• Virus and vector biology, including transmission and patterns of spread
• Practical mitigation and vineyard-management strategies
• Nursery testing, clean plant material and validation of diagnostic tools

The program may also support work on vine physiology and longer-term resistance while advancing practical outcomes for growers.

The GRBV Initiative expects to issue its first calls for proposals in January 2027 and make initial funding decisions in spring 2027. Additional fundraising will continue to expand the research program and support future phases.