OIV Opens 2026 Wine Research Grants With Awards Up to €50,000

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine has opened applications for its 2026 research grant program, offering funding for projects tied to the global wine sector’s main scientific, environmental and market challenges. Applications are due by July 12 and must be sent to [email protected].

The OIV said it will offer two types of grants under its strategic plan: short-term research grants lasting six to 15 months, with funding of up to €15,000, and three-year research grants worth up to €50,000. The program is aimed at postgraduate training and research, including doctoral and postdoctoral work.

Eligible applicants must hold a master’s degree or have completed at least five years of university study with a degree, and they must be 40 or younger. Candidates must also be able to read and write in one of the OIV’s official languages. For three-year grants, the applicant cannot be an employee of a company.

The OIV said the number of grants awarded will depend on its annual budget. It also said applicants must present a full research budget, including expected expenses and other funding sources, because OIV support may cover only part or all of project costs up to the stated limits. Grant holders must prove they have secured any additional financing required before OIV payments are made.

The organization said the program is supported not only by its own funds but also by a consortium of wine companies made up of Masi Agricola of Italy, Sogrape of Portugal, Viña Concha y Toro of Chile and Yalumba Family Winemakers of Australia. It added that research grants in the health field will be selected, assessed and funded exclusively by the OIV, without third-party involvement.

The 2026 priority themes cover four broad areas. The first focuses on climate change, water, soil and biodiversity management in sustainable vitiviniculture. Topics include biodiversity indicators for vineyard ecosystems, tools to improve resilience to extreme weather, precision agriculture, AI-based forecasting systems, greenhouse gas reduction techniques and new plant protection methods such as RNAi technology, biocontrol and integrated pest management with lower reliance on chemical inputs including copper.

A second area centers on technological advances in grape and wine analytics, processing and packaging. The OIV is seeking work on more sustainable production processes, packaging and market acceptance for products including de-alcoholized and partially de-alcoholized wines. Other topics include low-carbon transport and packaging materials, ultra-lightweight glass bottles and alternatives to glass, circular economy models, life-cycle assessment methods, green analytics, digital traceability and certification systems.

A third group of themes addresses resilience across the wine value chain. The OIV listed consumer willingness to pay for sustainability attributes, communication strategies around premiumization, the role of vineyards in rural economies and wine tourism, regional development and landscape preservation. It also included trade barriers such as tariffs, non-tariff restrictions, labeling rules, health information requirements, marketing restrictions, geographical indications, trademarks and changing international sustainability rules.

The fourth area deals with consumer safety, nutrition, health and information. Topics include contamination risks from packaging contact materials such as plastics, coatings and PFAS; toxic chemicals and microplastics in wine products; improved packaging standards; and risk assessment methods. The OIV also invited research on the effects of wine and grape-derived product consumption on health outcomes including all-cause mortality, body weight, longevity, polyphenols and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as studies on alcohol consumption patterns, social norms, drinking guidelines, warning labels and related policy implications.

Applications must include a completed form with a photograph, a description of the host research center, a detailed curriculum vitae, a one- to two-page research proposal linked to the OIV strategic plan, an overall project budget and scholarship budget draft, proof of identity, copies of qualifications and three references. For research projects, one reference must come from the research director.

According to the OIV’s rules, priority will be given to projects backed by a research center. Applicants must work under the direct responsibility of a research director, while the OIV will appoint a scientific referee from one of its bodies to monitor the project with the host institution. Successful candidates will be required to present interim and final results in one of the OIV’s official languages at official meetings set by the secretariat office and submit a final report that may be published by the organization.