The University of California (UC), Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR)—in cooperation with the national viticultural industry, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Cornell University—formed a Viticulture Consortium (VC) in 1996 to promote research and extension education that will assist the viticulture industry in remaining competitive. UC administers the Viticulture Consortium West (VCW), and Cornell University administers Viticulture Consortium East (VCE).

The Viticulture Consortium is funded by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) to supplement and encourage the viticulture industry to continue to provide industry funding for research and extension education. Coordination of joint priority setting and matching industry funding continues as a basic philosophy of the Viticulture Consortium, the industry and CSREES.