Sustainable Winegrowing

Dr. Luca Brillante is the Bronco Viticulture Chair and Assistant Professor of Viticulture in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at California Fresno State University.  Prior to this appointment he was a Post-Doc Researcher for the University of California Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, working on precision viticulture and implementation of variable rate and site specific manag...

Dr. Michelle Moyer, Washington State University Extension, and Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Affiliate Faculty Member in the Department of Plant Pathology returns to the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast after her top rated presentation on the Goldilocks Principle & Powdery Mildew Management. In this interview she discusses recent research on integrated pest management fo...

Gregory V. Jones is the Director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education, holds the Evenstad Chair in Wine Studies, and is a professor and research climatologist in the Department of Environmental Studies at Linfield College in Oregon. He specializes in the study of climate structure and suitability for viticulture, and how climate variability and change influence grapevine growth, wine producti...

Dan Rodrigues, Owner of VinaQuest has been farming his whole life. Dan oversees pest control, irrigation, replant, development, and investigates problems on winegrapes, blueberries, and avocados grown from Salinas to Northern Santa Barbara. Additionally he is a lecturer at California Polytechnic State University on viticulture practices and vineyard management. Dan talks about how the loss of mate...

Audra Cooper, Broker/Partner at Turrentine Brokerage began her career in 2006 providing support for grape brokers throughout the state and has served as lead grape broker for the Central Coast region of California since 2012. She grew up on ranches in the Central Coast and graduated from California State University at Fresno with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Audra talks about what wine and...

Dr. Alfredo Koch, Ag Business, Viticulture & Enology Coordinator, describes the Viticulture and Enology Program at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California. Topics include the content of the degree program, the work students do as part of their training, the campus vineyard, and the wines the students make and sell. References: AHC ( Allan Hancock College) AHC Class Search AHC Distance Lea...

Jim Anshutz, Partner, AgH2O talks about irrigation system maintenance, technology, and efficiency. Topics include system pressure, flushing, protecting emitters, system design, pumping, irrigation scheduling, Reference California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) Fresno State Center for Irrigation Technology (CI...

Kacy Smith, Health and Wellness Coordinator & Michael Parola, Assistant Ranch Manager and Sustainability Director at Smith Family Wines talk about the social equity component of sustainability at Smith Family Wines. Topics include their 401(k) retirement plan, health insurance plan, and extensive health and wellness program which includes paid time for exercise, family fitness events, and exercise...

Dr. Stephanie Bolton, Sustainable Winegrowing Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission, talks about sustainable farming in Lodi including the use of beneficial insects, pesticide reduction, grower-to-grower education, and the sense of community that makes the Lodi wine region a special place. References: 54: Growing Grapes on Two Coasts (podcast with Dr. Cliff Ohmart) Stephanie Bolton's LinkedIn Page S...

Jeff Newton President and CEO, Costal Vineyard Care Associates discusses his career, the history and future of the Santa Ynez American Viticultural Area. Topics include how he got into farming, why he chose wine grapes, and changes he's seen in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA over the years. References: Coastal Vineyard Care Associates Founding Father: Jeff Newton | Interview with Heather Daenitz Grower...

Paul Crout, Agronomist, Helena AgriEnterprises and Vice-Chair, California Association of Pest Control Advisers, talks about the mismatch between farming and the perceptions and beliefs people have about agriculture. He touches on local, state, and national level means of education growers can be involved in and his own efforts to educate the public about what farmers do and do not and how that may...

Mark Browning, owner, Barn Owl Box Company and Head Researcher, Barn Owl/Rodent Project discusses barn owls, their role in the environment, their habits and behaviors, their biology, their prodigious appetite for rodents and how to attract and keep them around the farm. References: Barn owl battles Kestrel for nesting spot Barn Owl Biology Barn Owl Nesting Box Fact Sheet The Barn Owl Box Company T...

Fritz Westover, owner/operator of Westover Vineyard Advising describes growing conditions and challenges in multiple states across the Southeastern United States and Texas.  Fritz's career has taken him from Pennsylvania to Texas, California to Italy, giving him a unique perspective on growing grapes in different conditions around the world. References: 4/22/19 Webinar | Practices for Promoting Vi...

Conservation burning is a way of dramatically reducing greenhouse gasses and particulate releases from burning woody material like old grapevines. Biochar is a soil amendment that can hold water and nutrients in the soil for slow release to the plants. Raymond Baltar, Director of the Sonoma Biochar Initiative; Director of the California Biochar Association and  Biochar Project Manager at Sonoma Ec...

One of the most respected viticulturists on the West Coast, Mark Greenspan, Ph. D., President and Viticulturist, Advanced Viticulture, Inc. discusses the science and technology of irrigating winegrapes for maximum quality and yield while managing vine stress and conserving water. Topics include irrigation scheduling with pressure bombs, dendrometers and leaf porometers, technology in the vineyard,...

Mark Chien, Program Coordinator of the Oregon Wine Research Institute, has devoted his career to helping grapegrowers in some of the most difficult growing regions in the world. Over the past four decades Mark's work as an educator and extentionist in Pennsylvania and Oregon has improved wine quality on both coasts. Mark shares highlights from his career including his years as a vineyard manager,...

This podcast is a recording from a workshop we co-costed on soil health. As part of California Climate Investments, the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program distributed $5.8 million in cap and trade funds in 2018 to farming and ranching operations for the implementation of soil health practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This...

Dr. Cliff Ohmart shares insights from his career in sustainability research and education in winegrapes and other crops. He talks about how his experiences with the Lodi Winegrape Commission and grape growers in the Lodi appellation shaped how he sees IPM and sustainable winegrowing today. References: 27: 50 years of IPM | Peter Goodell (Sustainable Winegrowing) 35: Integrated Pest Management in S...

Leading expert Dr. Andrew Landers of Cornell University discusses his more than thirty years of research and development on pesticide sprayer technology to reduce pesticide use through accurate, efficient delivery of the product to the plant. References: 1/15/19 Tailgate Meeting | Effective Vineyard Spraying - Soledad 1/17/19 Tailgate Meeting | Effective Vineyard Spraying - Santa Maria 2015 Precis...

Kris Beal, M.S., Executive Director of Vineyard Team, recounts some of the history of the organization, it's current activities and what the future holds in store. The Vineyard Team identifies and promotes the most environmentally safe, viticulturally and economically sustainable farming methods, while maintaining or improving quality and flavor of wine grapes. The Team is a model for wine grape g...

Grapevine Leaf Roll-associated Virus 3 as well other virus diseases of grapevines have a profound effect on wine quality and the economic viability of a vineyard. Dr. Kari Arnold the Area Orchard and Vineyard Systems Advisor at Stanislaus County, Associated with University of California Cooperative Extension, describes the connections between the Californian plant propagation system, the movement...

Jean-Pierre Wolff, Owner & Vintner of Wolff Vineyards, turning a nuisance into an asset by restoring the stability and ecological functioning of the creeks that surround his property including the steelhead trout spawning habitat. He also realized an economic benefit by preventing the loss of tons of soil to erosion. References: 42: Farming with Wildlife | Lucas Pope (Podcast) Central Coast Region...

Walt Mahaffee, Ph. D., Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Corvalis explains how and why Grape Powdery Mildew populations become resistant to certain fungicides. He also explores how to mitigate resistance and describes current research on how fungicide resistance starts in Grape Powdery Mildew and how it spreads from one place to another.  References: Mahaffee's USDA A...

References: Conserving Irrigation Water | Jacob Hernandez & Craig Macmillan (Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast) Dr. McCarthy Profile Google search for "Michael McCarthy viticulture" "Managing vines during heat waves" Fact Sheet from Wine Australia REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION AND PARTIAL ROOTZONE DRYING: An overview of principles and application | Paul E. Kriedemann & Ian Goodwin Sign Up | Irrigatio...

Sarah Lopez, Executive Director of Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc., gets into the details of monitoring flowing water for the presence of pesticides and fertilizers which could have originated on farms upstream. Topics include how monitoring is done, why it is done, and the Cooperative Monitoring Program (CMP) makes compliance with regulations easier and less expensive for growers....