Wine Grape Resources for Umatilla County

Umatilla County is home to a growing wine grape acreage and the Oregon half of the Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), known for its production of high quality wine grapes. The growing conditions of this Eastern Oregon region are hotter, colder, and drier than other wine grape growing regions in Oregon, posing unique challenges and opportunities.

Pest management guide for wine grapes in Oregon

Learn the most effective techniques for controlling insects, weeds and disease on wine grapes in Oregon. Study strategies for controlling powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and spider mites.

Patricia A. Skinkis, Jay W. Pscheidt, Achala KC, Marcelo Moretti, Vaughn Walton | Mar 2026 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

How to assess whether grapes and wines are affected by wildfire smoke

Exposure of wine grapes to wildfire smoke can affect the sensory qualities of wine. Learn how to use laboratory analysis and micro fermentations to assess the impact.

James Osborne, Patricia A. Skinkis, Elizabeth Tomasino | Nov 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Microfermentation can help determine smoke's effect on wine grapes

There is no formula for determining whether smoke affects the flavor of wine grapes. The best way to find out is to combine lab analysis with the tasting of a small batch of wine made from grapes exposed to smoke.

Elizabeth Tomasino, Anita Oberholster, Tom Collins | Nov 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Wine Industry Wildfire Smoke Toolkit

This website hosted by the Oregon Wine Board, provides important resources, industry round table discussions, and frequently asked questions regarding smoke effects on grapes and wine.

Sep 2020 | Online resource

How to scout for grape phylloxera in vineyards

This video provides the basic steps in searching for phylloxera in an infested vineyard.

Michelle Moyer, Gwen Hoheisel, TJ Mullinax, Patricia A. Skinkis | Mar 2025 | Video

Oregon Wine Research Institute

Visit this website for information about the research activities of the faculty team at the Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University. Information is intended for the commercial wine grape industry. Content includes research reports, newsletter archives, webinar recordings, upcoming events, and other research-based information from viticulture, enology, and wine business faculty.

Patricia A. Skinkis, James Osborne, Denise L. Dewey | Jul 2018 | Online resource

Preventing and managing grapevine leafroll virus and mealybugs in Oregon vineyards

Grapevine leafroll viruses afflict commercial vineyards around the world. The diseases, spread by mealybugs, cause leaf chlorosis and reduce yields. Learn how to prevent and manage both the virus and the insects in Oregon vineyards.

Kyoo Rok Park, Serhan Mermer, Linda Brewer, K.M. Daane, N.H. Mercer, Patricia A. Skinkis, Rick Hilton, Alexis Shobe, I.O. Ozdemir, Vaughn Walton | Mar 2026 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Nonlethal bird deterrent strategies: How to reduce fruit crop losses in Oregon

Bird predation is a significant threat to marketable yields in fruit crops. There are many avian deterrents on the market. In most cases, the best results come from a multi-pronged approach.

Scott Lukas, Logan Clark, Amanda Davis, Dana Sanchez, Linda Brewer | Nov 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Wine Grapes

Mar 2022

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Wine grapes

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Impact of Smoke Exposure on Wine

Recent wildfires have exposed grapes in some areas to high levels of smoke that can affect wine quality. While there’s still a lot we don’t know, certain practices can help. Grape growers can identify ...

James Osborne, Elizabeth Tomasino | Oct 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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How to scout for grape phylloxera in vineyards

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Learn the most effective techniques for controlling insects, weeds and disease on wine grapes in Oregon. Study strategies for controlling powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and spider mites.

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