By Lauren Paterson, WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Grapevine red blotch disease spreads through vineyards and blotches leaves, shrinking wine and juice grape harvests.

Researchers at WSU’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center are studying how and why the grapevine red blotch virus, which causes the disease, spreads.

“We’re interested in finding out how the grapevines respond to the virus,” said Bhaskar Bondada, WSU associate professor.

Grape leaves work like solar panels, using sunlight to convert sugar into energy that fuels grape production.

Because leaves become less active when grapevines contract the red blotch virus, less sugar is moved through the plant, causing grapes to fade and grow more slowly. The virus also adversely affects pH, tannin levels, and other flavor characteristics of the fruit, and the final wine.

While virologists study the virus itself, Bondada, a physiologist, is interested in how the physical symptoms of the disease manifest on the plant.

“I’m studying what the symptoms look like in the plant on the cellular level, and how the virus spreads throughout the vine and the vineyard,” he said.

Research team member and WSU Viticulture & Enology graduate student Bailey Hallwachs took samples from multiple vineyards throughout Oregon and Washington over the summer, and is currently processing fruit and plant tissues samples at the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center in Pullman. She uses microscopes to observe grapevine plant cells affected by the virus.

During the six years between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Hallwachs worked as an interior horticulturist at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, teaching gardening classes and managing the community gardens.

“Consistently, the issues we faced in production on a horticulture level were insects and diseases,” she said. “I wanted to get my graduate degree at WSU to understand the science behind solving major issues in agriculture so I could be part of the solution.”

The three-cornered alfalfa treehopper, a small green teardrop shaped insect, is the only confirmed insect to transmit the virus to the grapevine plant. There is currently no solution for treating grapevines infected with red blotch virus, aside from removing and replacing affected vines.

WSU’s research in red blotch virus is in partnership with Oregon State University. Field researchers at OSU provide the plant tissues and fruit, which are then analyzed at the WSU Wine Science Center.

“Our OSU partners are doing research in the field, and we are doing research at the physiological level,” Bondada said. “Once we have the data for them, we can develop more strategies to control the spread of the red blotch virus.” Research for this project is funded by the Oregon Wine Board and began in the spring. Bondada and Hallwachs intend to share their research in the new year.

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Bernadette Gagnier hadn’t found her ideal career path post life in the U.S. Marine Corps until she discovered that Washington State University Tri-Cities had a wine science program.

Gagnier served in the Marine Corps for five years, where she traveled the world, made life-long friends and overall enjoyed her experience.

“But when I got out, I hit a wall and I didn’t know what I wanted to do after that,” she said.

She enrolled in a community college in western Washington, intending to major in nursing, but realized that the path wasn’t for her. After searching the internet for what else would be a good fit, she found ���سԹ�’ Viticulture and Enology program, where students can study the science of wine, winemaking and how to grow wine grapes and manage grapevines.

“I have a hippie heart and my friends call me a plant mama,” she said. “Wine science seemed like a perfect fit.”

So on the last day to drop classes, she left. A week later, she found herself touring the ���سԹ� campus and decided to transfer.

“Most of the students were serious about their classes, had already declared their major and the average age was 25, and I really liked that,” she said.

She said transferring to ���سԹ� was one of the best decisions she’s made to date.

Learning to grow grapes and make wine

Through her viticulture and enology courses, Gagnier is gaining hands-on exposure in the

vineyards and the winery. Learning from professors who are passionate about what they do, she said she is receiving a world-class education.

Pair that with the ���سԹ� residing in Washington wine country and being able to study at the university’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center, which features state-of-the-art equipment, she said she couldn’t imagine picking a better place to attend college.

“We live in one of the best places in the country to grow wine grapes,” she said. “WSU has a nationally-acclaimed wine science program. It’s been a fantastic experience.”

Career experiences while still in school

Since coming to ���سԹ� and declaring her major in wine science, Gagnier has already had the opportunity to work in multiple local vineyards and in a tasting room, learning more about the industry through hands-on experiences, even alongside fellow WSU Cougs.

She said her career experience in the vineyard and in the tasting room pair perfectly with her classes.

With her goal of becoming a viticulturist and specializing in the program for vineyard management, she said there are really few other places that would be able to accommodate her goals with the same hands-on experiences.

“I really found my place and my people here,” she said. “We’re one big family. And then I can go out into the world and work with my other family – my other fellow Cougs in the industry.”

Premier Washington Wine

Washington is currently the second largest producer of wine grapes in the nation and the Tri-Cities was recently highlighted as “” by CNN.

With its 300 sunny days per year, its dry growing season, its soil type and ideal daytime air and soil temperatures, it makes it perfect for grape growing.

Combine that with the Northwest’s passion for wine and wine terroir, or tourism pertaining to the climate and growing factors that make for premier wine products, Gagnier said it’s the perfect place to study wine science.

For those who would like to go into the business side of wine and wine-related tourism, ���سԹ� also offers a wine and beverage business management degree program and hospitality business management program – one of the top programs in the country, in addition to a degree in business administration.

“It’s rare that a university offers all of these degree programs in one place,” she said.

Future in wine

After graduating from ���سԹ�, Gagnier said she hopes to land a position as a vineyard manager locally in the Tri-Cities region.

“It’s my dream to be well-respected in the field and to have a successful career with in the wine industry,” she said. “���سԹ� is helping me get there. I’d say if you’re serious about continuing your education, you have to check this place out. You’re not going to be disappointed.”

For more information on ���سԹ�’ wine science degree program, visit .