Vineyard Underground

Pruning wounds can leave your vines and trunks susceptible to certain disease-causing pathogens. While this is an inevitable part of growing a vineyard, there are certain pruning practices that can mitigate the risks. It's also useful to familiarize yourself with the different infection processes between diseases so you have better agency to approach these vineyard problems accordingly.   Joining...

This week we are joined by 3 highly successful experts who train and run crews for a living as they share their first-hand experience and advice on training your pruning crew in this informative, in-depth episode. Our guests today are Ivan Gonzales of Vineyard Professional Services in Paso Robles, California, Jake Busching of Jake Busching Wines in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Rob Warren of Dese...

You may know how to prune, but does your pruning crew know how YOU prune? Whether you're getting your friends or neighbors to help you out or you're hiring a large contracted crew, how they prune your vineyard can impact not only the success of this season but also the long-term health of your vineyard. In today's episode, we are going to talk about some things you need to consider for hiring a pr...

We can't help you make (or keep) your fitness resolutions, but today we will give you the information you need to make your vineyard healthier, happier, and more productive in the new year. On today's episode, we're going to talk about vineyard resolutions, specifically, the top five actions to Be a Better Grape Grower in 2023. These are actions that can be applied by growers of all experience lev...

This week we are joined by a few growers who have recently started their own vineyards as they share their personal experiences and advice for you if you are considering planting a vineyard. Even if you've already planted your vineyard, you're still going to get some great advice from this fun episode. Vineyard owners come from many walks of life, so today with chat with a working professional tha...

Are you dreaming of starting a vineyard? If so, then this special 2-part episode is for you! Starting a vineyard can very quickly turn from a dream into a nightmare if you aren't properly educated and prepared for what it takes to start, own, and grow a successful vineyard. On today's episode, Fritz shares some key factors you need to consider before you start a vineyard. In Part II, you will hear...

Pruning has consequences, but only through awareness, can you improve your technique. We need to prune every year, but we have to do it properly and in a way that's respectful to the vine. After all, how your vines grow largely depends on how you treat them. In today's episode, international pruning expert Marco Tessari imparts his wisdom and knowledge about pruning as well as some tips and strate...

If you're an experienced grape grower, you likely already have a good grasp of your pest and disease management program, your general fertilization strategy, and your vineyard management and labor. As your vines grow and age, there's another set of challenges that you may have to face as an experienced grower. On today's episode of Vineyard Underground, we turn our focus on the three common challe...

Starting a vineyard is exciting, but it also presents some unique challenges that new growers are often unprepared for. You have to be wary of things like pests and diseases or make sure you're not overfertilizing your soil. Not to mention, finding an experienced crew that can handle complex and skilled activities in the vineyard. All that can be overwhelming – unless you have a great plan in plac...

Whether you're new to grape growing or you just need a bit of confidence to assure you're doing things alright, there may be some questions that you might be asking yourself that need some clarification.   In today's episode, Fritz reveals the top three questions about growing grapes that he hears all the time. He also shares practical tips to give you the solution and confidence that you need in...

Why underground? You may ask.    Well, have you tried sorting out a vineyard problem? You probably searched for answers in a textbook or some online resource. But what you see online or in textbooks doesn't always apply to your exact situation because there is a lot of variability from one vineyard to the next. You've got to figure out how to get to that perfect picture of what a vine should look...

Welcome to the Vineyard Underground Podcast where we unearth what you need to know to be a better grape grower!    Hosted by Fritz Westover, this podcast is designed to help grape growers achieve success in their vineyard journey. In each episode, we'll share best practices in the industry, offer practical tips, and answer questions. We will help growers, like you, make some quick wins through pra...

What if you could hang out with experienced grape growers, ask them about the science of grape growing, vineyard operations, and more; then take an insight or two to improve your vineyard and ultimately the quality of the wines you produce? That's what we do each week on the Vineyard Underground. Hosted by Fritz Westover –– viticulture expert more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard indust...