2021 AVF Research Priority Survey

The American Vineyard Foundation is conducting a survey to identify top research priorities facing grape growers & vintners. Section one addresses viticulture related research priorities while section two addresses enology related research priorities. Please complete either section or both sections followed by questions (5 - 10) intended for all survey respondents. Thanks for your help defining our industry research funding priorities.

Section One - Viticulture: Various viticulture related issues are grouped into four categories below. These items represent some of the important issues associated with each category title. AVF funded research will not be limited only to items that appear in each category; these are provided as guidance for ranking your research priorities. Final results will help the AVF research review committees focus on projects for funding that closely align with perceived industry needs.

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* 1. Please rank the following four viticulture related categories in your order of importance. Number 1 would indicate your highest ranked research priority and number 4 your lowest.

Production Efficiency and Profitability - increase yield per acre while maintaining or improving fruit quality; identify and manage vineyard variability; expand use of mechanization and reduce manual labor, improve water use efficiency and irrigation

Disease and Insect Control - detection and management of viruses; mealybug, leafhopper and spider mite control; management of trunk diseases, crown gall, management of fungal pathogens.

Vineyard Sustainability - improved floor management practices; soil fertility and carbon dioxide sequestration in vineyard soils, management practices for nematode suppression & control.

Plant Material - clonal evaluation; breeding rootstocks resistant to vineyard pests and disease, breeding scion varieties for improved wine quality and disease resistance.

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* 2. Other: Please provide any viticulture research priorities you would like to see addressed that do not fall within the above four categories.

Section Two - Enology: Various enology related issues are grouped into four categories below. These items represent some of the important issues associated with each category title. AVF funded research will not be limited to only items that appear in each category; these are provided as guidance for ranking your research priorities. Final results will help the AVF research review committees focus on projects for funding that closely align with perceived industry needs.

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* 3. Please rank the following four enology related categories in your order of importance. Number 1 would indicate your highest ranked research priority and number 4 your lowest.

Wine Aroma and Mouthfeel Characterization – Identify and characterize wine aroma compounds and their precursors and wine mouthfeel compounds; develop rapid methods for chemical characterization of juice, must and wine; link wine chemistry to wine sensory.

Fermentation and Cap Extraction Management – Use yeast and bacteria to drive specific wine styles while reducing defects through strain selection, nutritional supplementation and process control. Optimize extraction of color and mouthfeel compounds; maximize color stability.

Wine Maturation and Stabilization – Develop procedures, practices and metrics to optimize use of oak barrels and oak barrel alternatives and micro-oxygenation to drive specific wine styles. Improve protein and cold stabilization to minimize flavor scalping, color loss and energy usage.

Winery Sustainability – Reduce winery and energy usage. Develop methods to effectively recycle winery waste water and to generate energy.

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* 4. Other: Please provide any enology research priorities you would like to see addressed that do not fall within the above four categories.

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* 5. Would you encourage and support AVF funded research addressing the current and future impact of "climate change" on viticulture and enology practices?

Yes

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* 6. Would you support AVF funded biotechnology/genetic modification research?

Yes

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* 7. What is the single most important industry research need from your point of view?

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* 8. Other: Please provide any other general feedback, comments or suggestions you may have regardless of any specific research topic.

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* 9. Please indicate your wine industry profession:

Viticulture/Grower

Enology/Vintner

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Survey completed by: (information is confidential)

Name:

Company:

Address:

City/Town:

State:

ZIP:

Email Address: