Bill > S1042

This bill requires the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to conduct comprehensive research on the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes. Specifically, the research will focus on identifying the chemical compounds responsible for "smoke taint" - an undesirable flavor in wine caused by smoke exposure during grape growth - and establishing standardized methods for sampling and testing smoke-affected grapes and wines. The bill mandates that the ARS develop fast and inexpensive screening techniques, create a database of naturally occurring smoke taint compounds, develop risk assessment tools and mitigation strategies to reduce smoke taint, and study potential barriers between grapes and smoke compounds. The research will be conducted in collaboration with land-grant colleges and universities in California, Oregon, and Washington, which have existing expertise in viticulture and enology. To support this research, the bill authorizes $6.5 million in funding annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This research is particularly important given the increasing frequency of wildfires and their potential economic impact on the wine industry.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1042/all-info