ViRV Grape Breeding Program for the Mid-Atlantic USA

Surya Sapkota is a Research Geneticist with USDA‑ARS at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, WV. He leads the newly established wine grape breeding program for the Mid‑Atlantic United States, developed in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board. His work focuses on breeding downy‑mildew‑resistant varieties with wine‑making quality comparable to Vitis vinifera. He previously contributed to grape breeding programs in the Finger Lakes and Missouri and has authored numerous research papers, extension articles, and book chapters.