Vineyard Underground

Listen in as we engage in a riveting conversation with two remarkable experts, Dr. Megan Hall and Dr. Mizuho Nita, about sour rot, a challenging disease that can significantly impact winegrapes. Through this discussion, we gain a deeper understanding of sour rot, exploring how to identify it, why and how it occurs, and the various organisms and insects involved. Megan shares her unique insights an...

Join us on the Vineyard Underground podcast as we welcome Denise Gardner, a renowned winemaking consultant and wine grape educator. Our exciting conversation begins with an exploration of how pre-harvest and harvest actions in the vineyard can greatly influence the quality of wine. Listen in as Denise shares her unique journey to becoming an acclaimed winemaker, as well as the industry accreditati...

Tune in as we have an enlightening discussion with Dr. Mark Greenspan, founder of Advanced Viticulture, about the latest innovations in irrigation scheduling and how it influences wine quality. We take a closer look into the intricacies of irrigation scheduling and its influence on wine quality. For over 30 years, Mark has been working with growers as an advisor and consultant, and he shares his u...

Prepare to have your perceptions challenged as we explore the intriguing relationship between wine yield and quality. Today, we welcome the brilliant Dr. Patty Skinkis, renowned for her work as a viticulture extension specialist at Oregon State University and the host of the Hi-Rez Vineyard Nutrition podcast. She'll be guiding us on a journey that will bust the industry myth that higher quality wi...

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Terry Bates, the director of Cornell's Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory, to explore the importance of crop estimation for successful vineyard management. We discuss the basics of crop estimation, including understanding the expected yield, ripening of the current crop, and how to prepare for the yield. We also talk about the optimal phenology timing...

Can you spot the spotted lanternfly? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Michela Centinari, Associate Professor of Viticulture at Penn State, for the latest research on this invasive insect pest and its impact on North American vineyards. Together, we explore all things spotted lanternfly for winegrape growers including identification, risk factors, preventative strategies, and treatment options. We c...

Should you be practicing leaf removal in your vineyard? What's the correct timing? How much leaf removal is too much? In this episode, we dive into the why, when, and how of all things leaf removal so you can feel confident in your thinning decisions. Our guests are Extension Viticulturist Dr. Cain Hickey from Penn State University and seasoned grape grower Galen Troxell from Galen Glen Vineyards...

When we shoot thin, we force the vines to focus all their best energy where we want the production and where we want the vine to grow in the years to come. This is how international pruning expert Marco Tessari so perfectly explains the purpose of shoot thinning.  Marco along with Ken Swegles of Rhizos Viticulture Consulting join me for this information-packed episode exploring what you need to kn...

We get many questions from growers like you all over the country and the world, so we are taking this episode to answer a handful of these questions on topics ranging from young vine training to fungicide rotation.  Listen in, as you may have had some of these same questions in your vineyard, and stay tuned for more grower Q&A episodes in the future! In this episode, you will hear: In year two, sh...

In this episode, Paicines Ranch Vineyard Director and global agriculture consultant, Kelly Mulville, shares his passion and expertise on integrating regenerative agriculture principles including sheep into vineyard systems to increase ecosystem health, biodiversity, and profitability.  Listen in to learn more about regenerative agriculture and how you can implement regenerative agriculture princip...

Nitrogen is one of the most popular nutrients for wine growers when it comes to general fertilization. However, many of us don't understand exactly why it's utilized. We don't understand the deeper reasons behind why nitrogen is so powerful. If you relate to that, no need to worry. I brought my good friend Paul Crout onto the show today to help us understand all things nitrogen. Paul is one of the...

In this episode, we are diving into the essential vineyard tasks that you need to complete before bud burst in your vineyard to ensure you're prepared and ready for the growing season. A successful season depends on you and your crew's preparation. You must have a top-to-bottom plan for your vineyard so it can thrive during the upcoming season. From knowing when you plan to spray your crops and wi...

In today's episode, we get to listen in as Fritz presents the keynote presentation at the 2023 Ohio Grape & Wine Conference focusing on the holistic approach to vine health, production, and vineyard longevity along with best practice innovations for holistic vineyard management. Embracing a holistic approach entails looking at the complete system from the time you plant your vineyard through the l...

On today's episode of Vineyard Underground, I'm answering questions from winegrape growers across the country (and the world) on 7 very different topics. Listen in as my answers to these questions just might help you with questions you have had for your vineyard as well.  If you have questions you need to be answered for your vineyard, remember you can click the Ask Fritz button at VineyardUndergr...

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...