In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Marcelo Moretti on some best practices for vineyard floor management. We discuss integrated weed management strategies, the use of organic herbicides, and the implementation of cover crops to promote vine health and combat weeds. Dr. Moretti also shares the challenges and advantages of various non-traditional methods, including the use of traditional and novel mechanical tools. In this episode, you will hear: Methods to manage a vineyard floor othe...
May 14, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 45
The first few months as a new grower can be the most nerve-wracking time of vineyard management. Everything is brand new and a little intimidating. Even a bug on a plant can be enough to raise an alarm because you simply don’t know if it’s going to ravage your vineyard or not. Viticulture consultant, Mark Chien joins me today to talk about surviving and thriving in the first few months after vine planting. In this episode, you will hear: The important considerations during the first three months...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, our guest Randy Heinzen, a vine management and vineyard business expert, discusses vine planting and site preparation for new vineyards or for existing growers looking to add new vineyard blocks. Randy, the owner and president of Vineyard Professional Services (VPS) in Paso Robles, CA, is a leading global expert in vineyard management. Listen in for an educational episode full of vine planting and site preparation tips from a vineyard management expert. In this episode, you will...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 43
In this episode, I have the pleasure of having a Q&A session with Jim Duane from Inside Winemaking. Jim has always been interested in winemaking and has been working in Napa Valley for over 20 years. Together, we are answering top questions submitted by listeners. We answer questions pertaining to replacing dead vines, digging in hardpan, natural pesticide use, and many, many more. Listen in as we answer these questions, and if you have questions of your own, get in touch! We’d love to answe...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 42
Is your vineyard irrigated? If so, then this episode is for you! Dr. Franklin Gaudi, executive vice president of design for Laurel Ag & Water, is on the show to discuss the often-overlooked topic of irrigation distribution uniformity (DU). Distribution uniformity measures how evenly water gets applied to the field, and it’s a topic that’s not taken as seriously as it should be. DU can make or break your vineyard when some vines get too much water, and others get none at all. In this episode,...
Mar 19, 2024•54 min•Ep. 41
The future of viticulture is evolving as the focus on sustainable agriculture improves and the search for environmentally friendly solutions becomes a priority. One of the most exciting areas in this sustainable revolution is the use of agricultural biologicals. Biologics are not new to the agricultural scene, but their potential is now being more fully realized in both conventional and organic viticulture. In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Pam Marrone, a trailblazer in the realm ...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min•Ep. 40
A common conversation in vineyard management is knowing how to spray your vineyard effectively. On today's episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Andrew Landers, who wrote the book on vineyard spraying. He brings more than 30 years of research and development on vineyard and orchard spraying technologies and techniques to share with us. In this episode, we discuss various tools and techniques to get the most out of your equipment and your product. This ranges from backpack sprayers when first ...
Feb 20, 2024•50 min•Ep. 39
Do you understand pruning wounds, infections of pruning wounds, and how to protect your vines? Grapevine pruning is an essential vineyard management practice that helps maintain plant health and fruit quality. However, this practice also exposes vines to various fungal diseases that can be detrimental to vineyard health. It’s important to know how to prevent harm and promote recovery if your vines become infected. In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Akif Eskalen from the UC Davis De...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 38
In today's episode, we are talking about unique or alternative pruning scenarios and methods with guests John Thull and Marco Tessari. We discuss viticulture for cold climates, unique pruning techniques from around the globe, and more. John has a degree in biology with a plant focus and spent time in Germany doing an apprenticeship. He now lives in Minnesota, where the temperatures can get well below freezing, and specializes in grape breeding and enology, with a focus on cold-climate grapes and...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 37
Happy New Year! In this episode, we welcome Joe Juniper of Vermillion Valley Vineyards, the second-largest vineyard in Ohio. In close proximity to Lake Erie, Joe is with us to discuss what it is like to grow vinifera in an area with very harsh winters. Joe has become an expert in managing extreme temperatures and precipitation variances, including mastering innovative cold pruning practices. Growers in northern climates typically grow cold-specific, hardy hybrids, but through some unique practic...
Jan 09, 2024•49 min•Ep. 36
We are closing out the year with a grower Q&A episode! In this episode, Fritz is answering questions from growers all across the country on topics ranging from pre-pruning to disease prevention for 2024 and all things in between. 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: How much pre-pruning can I do before the final pruning, and how early can I get started with ...
Dec 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 35
Have you considered having your grape growing operation sustainably certified? In this episode, I have a conversation with Beth Vukmanic from the Vineyard Team on the impact and importance of sustainability certification programs for vineyards. Beth spent 12 years overseeing the Vineyard Team's Sustainability in Practice (SIP) certification program and now serves as the executive director of the Vineyard Team. As it turns out, there are many benefits to having a SIP certification. These benefits...
Dec 12, 2023•25 min•Ep. 34
We are back today for part two of our series “Six Essential Factors for Starting and Growing a Successful Vineyard.” Refer back to episode 32 for part one of the series if you haven’t listened to it yet. Just make sure you listen to both episodes to hear all six factors new growers need to understand and consider before planting a vineyard. In this episode, two of our favorite growers and friends, Rob Warren and Katy Jane Seaton, are joining the show to give their perspectives and advice on the ...
Nov 28, 2023•43 min•Ep. 33
Today, we're starting a two-part series on the six essential things you must understand and evaluate to start and grow a successful vineyard. Starting and running a vineyard is expensive – $20,000 to $25,000 per acre – not including fencing, equipment, and irrigation. It’s important you do your research and learn all that you can about the site you picked out before you plant a single vine. In this episode, two experienced guests, Dan Limoges and David Higginbotham, provide their first-hand pers...
Nov 14, 2023•29 min•Ep. 32
What are rootstock trials, and why are they important for your grape-growing operation? Listen in as I have a discussion with Dr. Gill Giese from the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University on the latest findings in rootstock trials and what they mean for vineyards today and in the future. In this episode, Gill and I talk about the results of the rootstock trials conducted in New Mexico and how they can impact wine growing in the region and elsewhere. We discuss the importance of col...
Oct 31, 2023•43 min•Ep. 31
We are nearing the end of the year already, which means it’s time to discuss our 2023 vineyard season-end review. This is a solo episode where I’m going into a lot of detail on the past year from a viticulturist's perspective. During this review, I discuss trends I’ve seen across North America, including the common things that worked and ones that didn't. I am also happy to announce that it’s the one-year anniversary of the podcast! I cannot believe how quickly the podcast has grown and the amou...
Oct 17, 2023•28 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, we are literally going underground. We're having a conversation with my pal Bubba Beasley about the science of soil mapping and why soil mapping is important for vineyards, even if your vineyard is already established. Bubba is a geologist and founder of HydroGeo Environmental. He is an expert in every sense of the word when it comes to soil mapping and vineyards. We discuss NCRS maps and how they help streamline the planting process, how to evaluate soil, the importance of soil...
Oct 03, 2023•40 min•Ep. 29
It is post harvest time for many of our northern listeners. You made it through the peak season, and you are now surviving through the fall and preparing your vineyard for leaf drop. In this solo episode, we are diving into the top four post harvest vineyard priorities for healthy, happy grape vines going into winter dormancy. We dig into late season fertilization, nutrient management, soil moisture management, and preparing for the next year. If you want to set your grape vines up for success a...
Sep 19, 2023•48 min•Ep. 28
As a wine-grape grower, yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) is an important factor to measure in your grapes and wine. On today’s episode, Professor and Enologist Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield joins us to share her expertise on the role of yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and nitrogen in wine quality and fermentation. Her work and focus on sensory science and flavor chemistry for wine production brings a unique perspective as we discuss all things YAN: what it is, why it’s important, and how to meas...
Sep 05, 2023•31 min•Ep. 27
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 and invaluable experience in managing sour rot in grapes. We also delve into her ground-breaking resea...
Aug 22, 2023•55 min•Ep. 26
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 accreditations she's gathered along the way. Our conversation focuses on the importance of preparation and plan...
Aug 08, 2023•35 min•Ep. 25
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 unique expertise on viticulture in this episode. Listen in as we explore how the strategic use of def...
Jul 25, 2023•54 min•Ep. 24
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 wine comes from lower yields. Dr. Skinkis has spent the past decade committed to a unique vineyard exp...
Jul 11, 2023•51 min•Ep. 23
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 for crop estimation and crop adjustment. Listen in as we explore the power of proximal sensing and h...
Jun 27, 2023•45 min•Ep. 22
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 cover how to identify spotted lanternfly in all stages of its life cycle along with what to do and ho...
Jun 13, 2023•32 min•Ep. 21
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 in Pennsylvania. We talk about the research that’s been done on fruit zone leaf removal and their ex...
May 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 20
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 know about shoot thinning for your current season and for the long-term growth and longevity of your co...
May 16, 2023•38 min•Ep. 19
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, should I let the fruit develop or drop? When should I start spraying vines in the season if there's...
May 02, 2023•41 min•Ep. 18
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 principles into your vineyard with or without sheep. In this episode, you will hear: What is regenerative ag...
Apr 18, 2023•54 min•Ep. 17
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 foremost experts on vineyard nutrition and spray, a leading pest control advisor, and a Certified C...
Apr 04, 2023•57 min•Ep. 16
