Sustainable Winegrowing

Vineyard Team

Get the latest science and research for the wine industry with Sustainable Wine Growing. Vineyard Team brings you industry professionals and experts on resource issues and business trends related to sustainable agriculture to help you put sustainability into practice.

  1. 310: Can Your Vineyard Soil Hold Enough Water Without Irrigation?

    3D AGO

    310: Can Your Vineyard Soil Hold Enough Water Without Irrigation?

    Can your soil hold enough water to carry vines through the season without irrigation? Miguel Garcia, Regenative Agriculture Project Manager at Napa RCD, shares findings from a 15-vineyard study across California's North Coast. By measuring organic matter, soil respiration, active carbon, and aggregate stability, the project evaluates how soils store and supply water over the growing season. Learn how cover crops, tillage practices, and deep root systems shape soil and moisture dynamics, and how dry-farmed vineyards compare with the broader soil health database.  Resources:   4/28/26 Dry Farm Site Tour, New Cuyama, CA | REGISTER 5/21/26 The Science and Practice of Dry Farmed Vineyards, Paso Robles, CA | REGISTER 171: How to Farm Wine Grapes for Climate Change   181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use?   287: Dry Farming Vineyards: Where It Works and How to Begin California Winegrape Dry Farming Potential Map Dry Farming in Coastal California Vineyards Napa County Resource Conversation District North Coast Soil Hub  Support the Podcast:  Make a Donation  Vineyard Team Programs:  Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

    30 min
  2. 304: Vineyard Mothballing: Costs, Risks, and Long-Term Yield Consequences

    MAR 19

    304: Vineyard Mothballing: Costs, Risks, and Long-Term Yield Consequences

    With current market shifts, vineyard mothballing can buy growers time—but it requires strategy, not abandonment. Chris Chen, Integrated Vineyard Systems Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, draws on research in Australia and field experience in California to outline what minimal management really looks like. From pruning approaches and livestock integration to pest and disease management, irrigation by rootstock and soil type, and long-term yield risks, he explains how to reduce costs now without compromising a vineyard's future—or risking fines.  Resources:   4/8/2026 REGISTER: Tailgate | Mothballing Roundtable Chris Chen - Twitter Out of Sync: vineyard responses to changing conditions  Partial Solar Radiation Exclusion with Color Shade Nets Reduces the Degradation of Organic Acids and Flavonoids of Grape Berry (Vitis vinifera L.) UCCE North Coast Viticulture UC Cooperative Extension Sonoma County UCCE Viticulture Publications Online - North Coast  Support the Podcast:  Make a Donation  Vineyard Team Programs:  Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

    31 min

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Get the latest science and research for the wine industry with Sustainable Wine Growing. Vineyard Team brings you industry professionals and experts on resource issues and business trends related to sustainable agriculture to help you put sustainability into practice.

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