HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Patty Skinkis talks with Dr. Thibaut Verdenal of Agroscope Research Station in Switzerland about how vineyard management practices—from canopy size and crop load to cover cropping and rootstock choice—shape vine nutrient status and wine quality. Drawing on decades of applied research, Thibaut explains why YAN is often the most important predictor of wine quality, how environme...

In this episode of the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast , Dr. Patty Skinkis talks with agronomists from Waypoint Analytical and Dellavalle Lab. Learn about the use of petiole vs. leaf sampling, optimal bloom and veraison timing, representative sample design, and common nutrient issues. Gain guidance on improving tissue and soil sampling accuracy, interpreting lab reports, and integrating emerging...

Go behind the scenes of vineyard nutrient analysis! In this episode of the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast , Dr. Patty Skinkis talks with experts from Penn State and Soil Test Farm Consultants about what happens after you submit tissue or soil samples. Learn how labs process samples, ensure accuracy, and why certified labs matter. Plus, practical tips for growers on sampling, documentation, and a...

Diagnosing vineyard nutrient issues isn't simple. In this episode, Dr. Patty Skinkis and viticulture expert Fritz Westover share practical strategies for soil and tissue testing, interpreting results, and timing nutrient applications for maximum efficiency. Perfect for growers, consultants, and academics seeking actionable insights to optimize vineyard health and fruit quality. Podcast transcript...

Have you ever wondered how vineyard nutrient guidelines are determined? It is through real-world applications and Extension collaboration. Dr. Cain Hickey, Assistant Teaching Professor of Viticulture at Penn State Extension talks about a statewide vineyard nutrition project he is conducting to set the baseline for commercial vineyards in Pennsylvania. Discover how tissue sampling is linked with vi...

Are traditional "critical values" still the best guide for vineyard nutrient management? In this episode, Dr. Matthew Fidelibus joins Dr. Patty Skinkis to explore how applied research is reshaping our understanding of vine nutrition. From nutrient budgeting and rootstock effects to the role of leaf age in remote sensing, this conversation offers practical insights to make data-driven nutrition dec...

Dr. Nick Dokoozlian of Gallo shares how cross-sector collaboration is transforming vineyard nutrition management. From remote sensing to sustainability, he highlights the power of data, teamwork, and long-term vision through projects like HiRes and GrapeX to assist growers with complex decision-making. Podcast transcript is available at http://beav.es/5GD . Projects referenced in the podcast: HiRe...

In this episode, Donnell Brown, President of the National Grape Research Alliance, joins Dr. Patty Skinkis to explore how NGRA bridges science and industry. Learn how collaborative research initiatives like the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project are developed, funded, and implemented to drive innovation across the American grape industries. Podcast transcript is available at http://beav.es/5GD .   F...

Anji Perry of J. Lohr Vineyards shares her practical approach to vineyard nutrition, emphasizing sustainability and precision. She outlines five core factors she uses to guide nutrient decisions: soil quality, water quality, YAN (Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen), leaf analysis, and visual symptoms. Anji discusses the importance of nitrogen and potassium in vine health and wine quality, and how site-spe...

Emily Hodson, winemaker at Veritas Vineyard and Winery, highlights the role of nitrogen and potassium in wine quality. She addresses challenges with high potassium in Virginia soils and promotes organic nutrients and precise vineyard management. Her involvement in Winemakers Research Exchange and the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project, is leading to practical, science-based solutions for viticulture...

How does vineyard nutrition impact wines? Learn from Dr. Jim Harbertson the expected and unexpected wine outcomes of nutrient trials conducted in Washington vineyards as part of the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project. Hear about wine anthocyanins, amino acids, phenolics, and tannins as impacted by nitrogen. Podcast transcript is available at http://beav.es/5GD . We need your feedback! If you have be...

How close are we to having practical sensor solutions for growers to use in their vineyards? In this episode, Dr. Rob Chancia discusses the benefits, drawbacks, and costs of different technologies explored in the project. You will get a glimpse of what is needed to achieve integrated vineyard maps for vineyard nutrition management and take them to the next step. Podcast transcript is available at...

How much fertilizer is needed to change vine nutrient status? In this episode, Dr. Keller shares surprising findings from his team's work on nitrogen and potassium in field and potted vine studies. They used traditional and alterative tissue sampling with sensor technology to understand nutrient status paired with vine physiological respones. Podcast transcript is available at http://beav.es/5GD ....

Do grape cultivars have different responses to nutrients? Do we need to sample different tissues based on cultivar? Does the time of day matter for tissue sampling? In this episode, Dana Acimovic of Virginia Tech's Viticulture Team describes the research to address these questions. Podcast transcript and details are available at http://beav.es/5GD .

Foliar nitrogen application is one way wine grape growers can improve berry and must yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN). In this episode, Pierre Davadant, graduate research assistant in Dr. Markus Keller's Lab at Washington State University, describes his research to trace the destination of nitrogen through grapevines, with a focus on foliar nitrogen applications. Listen to find out where nitrogen...

We know nitrogen is important for a healthy fermentation, but does the source of nitrogen matter? Should it be added in the vineyard or the winery? In this episode, Megan Mershon, graduate research assistant at Virginia Tech, describes research they are conducting to compare wine sensory response from nitrogen trials they've conducted in the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project. Podcast transcript and...

Working with crop specialists is important for precision ag tool development. In this episode, Dr. Manoj Karkee talks about his team's collaboration with others in the HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project to develop ground-based sensors for vineyard nutrients. He also talks about other projects to make farming more efficient, including shoot thinning and crop yield estimation. Podcast transcript and d...

How far have we come in developing sensors for monitoring vineyard nutrition? In this episode, Dr. Alireza Pourreza, Associate Professor of UC Cooperative Extension, talks about his lab's research into nitrogen sensor development and the robust models they feed into that will be useful for farm decision-making. Podcast transcript and details are available at http://beav.es/5GD .

In this episode, we break the status quo and discuss alternative grapevine tissues being investigated for nutrient sampling. Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk, post-doctoral researcher at Washington State University and the HiRes Team's Project Manager, describes the research she conducted to understand the validity of other tissues in correlating with standard methods and how that project led to interest...

Getting a representative tissue sample from the vineyard can be challenging without some prior information or knowledge of the vineyard property. In this episode, Manushi Trivedi, Cornell University PhD student, talks about the work they are doing to pin-point where to sample in as few locations as possible to best represent vineyard blocks in nutrient sampling. Podcast transcript is available at...

How are sensors developed for nutrient status detection? In this episode, Dr. Chenchen Kang, former Washington State University graduate student, describes how hyperspectral sensors are being developed to scan grapevine canopies to detect nitrogen status. Learn about the current successes in the research process and future endeavors. Podcast transcript is available at http://beav.es/5GD .

Did you ever wonder how much nitrogen grapevines takes up and when? In this episode, Tom Groenveld, former HiRes Vineayrd Nutrition project manager and post-doctoral scholar at Washington State University, describes a hydroponic nitrogen feeding study he conducted with Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines to address this question. Podcast transcript is available at  http://beav.es/5GD .

What is the economic value of making good farm management decisions? In this episode, Alejandro Abarca, Graduate Research Assistant and PhD candidate at Oregon State University, describes research conducted to quantify economic value of vine nutrient management using grapevine tissue nutrition data and end-of-season yields to develop a model to help predict yield impacts in the future. Transcript...

In this episode the microphone is flipped on our host, Dr. Patty Skinkis, HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Project Co-Director, who speaks about her path to viticulture research, Extension, and this project. She also speaks to the importance of sharing research results and developing communications streams to inform and build research that impacts industry.  Podcast transcript is available at http://beav....

Vineyard nutrient management often focuses on nitrogen which is important for berry and must nitrogen that feed the fermentation. However, there is more that we need to learn about nitrogen in wine. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Stewart, Associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech, talks about her research to understand the components of nitrogen that lead t...