AgBioResearch

Michigan Grape and Wine Research Priorities for 2026-27

1. Climate Resilience, Frost Protection & Extreme Weather

Research practical vineyard strategies for increasingly unpredictable Michigan conditions, including spring frost and freeze events, winter injury, short growing seasons, extreme rainfall, and drainage issues. Evaluation of frost-mitigation technologies and management practices growers can realistically implement, with greater emphasis on understanding cold hardiness, dormancy, budbreak timing, winter survival, and adaptation to multiple erratic environmental stresses.

2. Performance & Cold-Hardy Grape Evaluation

Continue statewide trials of vinifera and cold-climate grape varieties with an emphasis on how they perform in Michigan vineyards, including winter survival, cold hardiness, budbreak timing, disease resistance, consistent yields, fruit chemistry, ripening window, vine growth, and wine quality. Expand testing of promising varieties and new selections that may be better suited to Michigan’s shorter growing season and unpredictable winters. Prioritize traits that reduce risk for growers while producing consistently high-quality fruit and wine.

3. Pest, Disease & Vineyard Biosecurity

Continue proactive research on vineyard pests, diseases, and emerging threats, with particular attention to spotted lanternfly as a newer and potentially significant risk to Michigan vineyards. Prioritize early detection and prevention, practical disease-management strategies, improved resistance to powdery and downy mildew, and realistic integrated pest management approaches that protect fruit quality while reducing unnecessary chemical inputs and costs for growers.

4. Practical Innovation, Mechanization & Labor Efficiency

Prioritize new, innovative, practical research designed for the size and economics of Michigan vineyards. Evaluate affordable tools and technology for pruning, harvesting, canopy management, crop estimation, weather monitoring and forecasting, remote sensing, soil mapping, and other precision-viticulture applications. Research should focus on solutions that farmers can realistically afford, implement, maintain, and see a measurable return, particularly for small and medium sized vineyards where expensive large-scale technology may not be practical.

5. Wine Quality & Michigan Wine Competitiveness

Support sensory and chemical analysis research that improves the quality, consistency, and competitiveness of Michigan-grown wine. Prioritize fruit and wine chemistry, focusing on acidity management, phenolic and tannin development, aroma and flavor compounds, ripening parameters, fermentation performance, and other measurable quality traits. Create stronger connections between MSU research and working Michigan vineyards by testing promising varieties, selections, and new approaches under real commercial growing conditions. Research should follow grapes from the vineyard through winemaking so we understand not only how they perform in Michigan’s climate, but whether they can consistently produce high-quality wines with real value to growers and wineries.