Sustainable Winegrowing
by 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.
Episodes
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334: Predicting Smoke Taint in Wine Grapes Before Harvest
Grapes can taste normal after smoke exposure and still produce smoke-tainted wine. So how can growers know what's worth harvesting? Kerry Wilkinson, Professor of Oenology at Adelaide University in Australia, explains how grape testing helps predict smoke taint risk before fermentation reveals the...
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333: Help Your Team Nerd Out | Marketing Tip Monday
Your hospitality team knows your wines, but do they know what's happening in the vineyard and cellar right now? Giving staff access to the technical side of wine can make them more confident educators and better storytellers. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine Join the SIP Certified Wine...
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332: Regenerative Viticulture: The Benefits of Stacking Practices
Resources: 308: Balancing Cost, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Vineyard Management 328: Rethinking Vineyard Weed Management to Build Healthier Soils Amélie Gaudin Barriers and opportunities to increase soil organic carbon in vineyards: A case study of extension personnel in France and in the...
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331: Rethinking Wine Packaging | Sustainable Story
By eliminating foil capsules and switching to lighter bottles, SAMsARA cut waste and emissions—reminding wine lovers that great wine doesn't need extra packaging. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your...
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330: Human-Robot Collaboration for Precision Agriculture
Imagine one vineyard machine that can prune, harvest, monitor vine health, and help guide irrigation decisions throughout the season. Manoj Karkee, the Norman R. and Sharon R. Scott Professor of Agricultural Science at Cornell University, explores how artificial intelligence, robotics, and...
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329: Sustainability Starts with People | Marketing Tip Monday
When we talk about sustainability in wine, practices like conserving water, enhancing soil quality, and supporting biodiversity often come to mind. But sustainability is about more than caring for the land; it's about caring for the people behind every bottle. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified...
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328: Rethinking Vineyard Weed Management to Build Healthier Soils
Healthy soils are built through years of management decisions and sometimes rethinking old practices. Jim Lincoln, General Manager of Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa Valley, shares how his approach to weed management has evolved from cultivation and herbicides to mowing, sheep grazing, cover crops,...
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327: The Feedback Loop Behind Better Wine | Sustainable Story
Growers rarely taste the wine made from their grapes. At Hope Family Wines, Stasi Seay uses annual tastings to help them connect their farming decisions to what's in the glass. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing...
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326: Increasing Microbat Activity for Vineyard Pest Management
Microbats are tiny natural predators with a big appetite for insects, but the uniform structure of a vineyard can keep them from venturing far into the block. Matt Fowles, Owner and CEO of Fowles Wine, noticed that vineyard blocks near trees had less moth pressure than those bordered by open...
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325: 4 Wine-Focused Social Media Tips: Q&A with Heather Daenitz | Marketing Tip Monday
Social media keeps changing, but wineries can stay relevant with a focused strategy. Heather Daenitz (Craft & Cluster) shares practical advice on Instagram Stories, audience engagement, searchable content, authentic video, and content series that help wineries connect with wine consumers....
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324: Why Great Wine Isn't Enough: The Science of Liking
Why we like wine has less to do with our taste buds than you might think. Zata Vickers, professor of Food Science and Nutrition and director of the Sensory Center at the University of Minnesota, explains the science behind why we like what we like. Learn how repeated exposure, positive social...
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323: Nature's Night Shift | Sustainable Story
Mesa Vineyard Management teamed up with Cal Poly to track barn owls and understand where they hunt in an effort to help growers strengthen natural pest control in vineyards. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing…
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322: Managing Spotted Lanternfly with Biological Control
Biological control is emerging as one of the most promising tools against spotted lanternfly. Anne Johnson, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, explains how spotted lanternfly damages grapevines by draining plant sap and producing honeydew that...
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321: 4 Ways to Get More from Every Social Media Post | Marketing Tip Monday
Boost your social media marketing without creating more content. Discover four simple strategies to improve SEO, help the right audience find your posts, increase saves and shares, build authentic connections, and repurpose content to maximize your reach. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine...
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320: How Grapevine Rootstocks Affect Drought Tolerance, Yield, and Canopy Growth
Choosing the right grapevine rootstock can improve drought resilience without sacrificing yield. Patty Skinkis, Viticulture Extension Specialist and Professor in the Horticulture Department at Oregon State University, shares findings from long-term Oregon rootstock trial comparing mature and…
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319: From Remote to Reliable | Sustainable Story
While Santa Barbara's Foxen Canyon area is known for its natural beauty, reliable cell service is not one of its amenities. Read More.
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318: The Hidden Life of Grapevine Roots: When Roots Really Grow
Many winegrape growers don't realize that grapevine roots are constantly growing, dying, and regenerating throughout the season. In this episode, David Eissenstat, Professor Emeritus at Penn State University, explains how decades of root research have challenged the myth that roots only grow at...
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317: Print Media Isn't Dead | Marketing Tip Monday
Think print is a thing of the past? Think again. Discover why print remains a powerful marketing tool for wineries, offering lasting impressions, stronger recall, and a personal touch that digital channels can't always match. Learn how to make your print materials work smarter and more…
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316: Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper: Monitoring, Models, and Management
Three-cornered alfalfa hopper (TCAH) is the only confirmed insect vector of grapevine red blotch virus in Vitis vinifera, yet many growers first realize they have the pest only after spotting petiole girdling in the vineyard. Cindy Kron, North Coast IPM Advisor at UC ANR, shares findings from two...
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315: Nature's Lawn Mowers | Sustainable Story
Meet Gilbert the Pig and friends. These goats, sheep, and Kunekune pigs replaced herbicides and mowing with year-round weed control. And they're adorable. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your...
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314: Cut Bird Damage and Costs: Real Grower Results Using Vineyard Lasers
Wine grape growers are turning to precision technology to mitigate bird damage while reducint labor and material costs. In this episode, Joseph Traut (Cypress AgTech) joins growers Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) and Paul Ramirez (Loma Escondida Farming) to share real-world experience using an...
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313: Train Your Team to Talk About Sustainability | Marketing Tip Monday
Two-thirds of consumers say sustainability matters when choosing what to buy. Learn how to equip your tasting room team with simple, authentic talking points that help guests connect with your values and turn every interaction into a memorable brand experience. Resources: Apply for SIP Certified...
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312: Why the Best Ag Tech Is Built With Growers
The biggest challenge in ag tech isn't innovation — it's making tools that actually work on the farm. Matthew Hoffman, General Partner and Head of Farms at Reservoir, shares how the company is helping ag tech startups develop tools that solve real farming challenges. By partnering directly with...
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311: A Softer Way to Fight Fungus in Vineyards | Sustainable Story
Andy Fles, Vineyard Manager at Shady Lane Cellars, wanted to make his fungicide program even more sustainable. So, he set up an experiment that put "soft" materials head to head with his usual program. Support the Podcast: Make a Donation Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship…
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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...
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309: Create Memorable Winery Experiences That Drive Sales | Marketing Tip Monday
Memorable winery visits don't happen by accident. They're designed. Craig Macmillan (Niner Wine Estates) shares how storytelling, insider access, and well-trained staff turn winery tours into long-lasting customer relationships. Resources: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** Apply…
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308: Balancing Cost, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Vineyard Management
Making the best sustainable farming decisions isn't about choosing one solution; it's about weighing the best strategies for your vineyard. Lucas Pope, Vice President of Altera Solutions, shares how growers can balance performance, cost, and long-term impact by understanding trade-offs. Lucas…
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307: Planting for Pollinators | Sustainable Story
147 native plants now create a thriving monarch butterfly sanctuary. What started as a passion project now supports biodiversity with minimal maintenance. Resources: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Planting for Pollinators…
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306: Using Barn Owls for Gopher and Rodent Control in Vineyards
Barn owls are natural predators of gophers, voles, and mice, three of the most common vertebrate pests in vineyards. Matt Johnson, Professor in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt University, studies how farms and wildlife can mutually benefit each other. Matt shares practical…
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305: 3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Sustainability | Marketing Tip Monday
Wine buyers care about sustainability—but are you talking about it? Learn three practical ways to share your sustainable winegrowing story through tasting room interactions, sales conversations, and social media that builds trust with today's conscious wine consumers. Resources: *** Tell Your...
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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…
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303: Too Salty to Irrigate: A Vineyard's Unexpected Water Solution | Sustainable Story
When a newly dug well revealed water too salty for irrigation, Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard faced a serious threat to vine health and wine quality. Discover how a reverse osmosis system and an unexpected salt-loving grass transformed a costly setback into a biodiversity-boosting solution....
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302: New Cover Crop Tool for Western Growers
Cover crops play a critical role in building healthy, resilient soils in vineyards and agricultural systems. Sarah Light, Agronomy Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, shares how cover crops protect soil from wind and heavy rain, improve water infiltration, and increase on-farm…
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301: Turning Sustainability into Sales | Marketing Tip Monday
Consumers want transparency and sustainability—and they reward it with loyalty and sales. This episode breaks down four key ways to communicate sustainability, from tasting rooms to sales channels, showing how clear, credible messaging builds trust and drives purchasing decisions. Resources: ***...
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300: From Sour Rot to Succession Planning: Craig Macmillan's Favorite Podcast Moments
A decade of viticulture education is right at your fingertips. Executive Director Beth Vukmanic interviews longtime host Craig MacMillan to celebrate ten years and 300 episodes of the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Together, they reflect on some of Craig's most memorable interviews—from new...
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299: A Winery, a Festival, and a $150,000 Investment in Music Education | Sustainable Story
While the Whale Rock Music Festival is renowned for rocking the Central Coast every year with live music and family-friendly activities. The event has an even greater purpose: supporting Templeton High School musicians through the parent-volunteer organization, TIMBA. Resources: *** Tell Your...
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298: How Cover Crops Shape Grapevine Root Systems
Root systems are more than just anchors, they are the plant's stomach, communicating with their environment through a network of microbes. Suzanne Fleishman, Assistant Professor of Root Biology at Penn State University, introduces the emerging field of Root Agroecology, which integrates plant...
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297: Consumers Want Sustainable Wine—Here's How to Be Seen | Marketing Tip Monday
Eco-conscious wine lovers are willing to pay more for sustainable products—but they won't dig for details. In this Marketing Tip Monday, learn how to meet consumer demand for sustainability by making it easy. With 60% of younger and multicultural wine buyers preferring sustainable wines…
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296: Using Lasers for Bird Pest Management
Lasers may offer a chemical-free way to deter bird pests in vineyards and other agricultural systems. George Gallagher, Department Head of Animal Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, explains why bird pressure goes beyond crop loss, raising concerns about disease risks like salmonella, E. coli…
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295: Wine Law Essentials: Contracts, TTB, Social Media & More
Legal oversights can cost wine brands dearly, but with the right guidance, many are entirely preventable. Lindsey Zahn, Managing Partner of Lindsey Zahn P.C. Alcoholic Beverage Law Firm, breaks down the top four legal pitfalls wineries and wine brands must avoid. From building solid contracts and...
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294: Rooted in Community: Winery Stories of Generosity | Marketing Tip Monday
Foxen and Niner show impactful ways to weave generosity into everyday business. As you plan for 2026, think about the unique ways your brand can meaningfully engage with your local community. Then, share your team's participation, spotlight the organizations you support, and tell the stories that...
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293: How Solar Panels Can Improve Vine Resilience and Wine Balance
Rising temperatures and erratic weather accelerate ripening, spread disease faster, and shift sugar, alcohol, and acidity levels. All of which threaten wine quality and style. At Geisenheim University, Dr. Manfred Stoll is testing "vitivoltaics": semi-transparent, trackable solar panels installed...
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292: Testing Vinifera vs. Hybrids: Which Survives Climate Stress Better?
Will hybrid grapes help vineyards survive climate change? Professor Karine Pedneault of the Université du Québec en Outaouais explores this question through trials that expose grapevines to drought and heat stress. Testing both vinifera and hybrid varieties, her research measured plant water flow...
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290: Fighting Powdery Mildew with UVC Light
With fungicide resistance on the rise, grape growers are looking for new ways to manage powdery mildew. Lexi McDaniel, Viticulture Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, explores the science behind using UVC light to combat this grapevine disease by directly disrupting the DNA...
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291: 3 Eco Buzzwords You Didn't Know Are Sustainable | Marketing Tip Monday
Terms like "regenerative," "climate‑smart," and "social equity" aren't just buzzwords—they're the building blocks of sustainable winegrowing. Learn wine brands protect soil, reduce energy use, and support people, all while producing high-quality wine. Resources: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story...
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289: How Spotted Lanternfly Puts Grapes at Risk—and What Growers Can Do
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is more than a nuisance, it poses a serious risk to vineyards. Brian Walsh, Extension Educator and Spotted Lanternfly Researcher with Penn State Extension, explains how this invasive insect threatens grapes across the eastern U.S. From unusual egg-laying behavior to...
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288: Why Now Is the Time to Promote Your Sustainable Certification
64% of consumers say sustainability is a top purchasing factor—even during inflation. But how do you turn that intent into action? Learn how to close the "aspiration-action gap" by proudly promoting your sustainable certifications and showing customers your commitment to responsible practices....
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287: Dry Farming Vineyards: Where It Works and How to Begin
Dry farming is more than just skipping irrigation—it's a deliberate practice that starts with soil stewardship. Lauryn Leeds Pesch of Chavez & Leeds Family Vineyards and Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting shares her deep-rooted knowledge in dry farming, a technique that relies solely on stored...
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286: To Till or Not to Till: Impacts on Soil, Vines, and Vineyard Budgets
Can no-till really work in low-rainfall, compaction-prone soils? Taylor Jones, Director of Viticulture at Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards in Santa Barbara, California shares insights from an 8-year vineyard floor trial comparing till vs. no-till practices. From vine vigor to soil health…
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BONUS: Regenerative Farming, Irrigation Efficiency, and Agroforestry Tips from Kevin Rost
After wrapping up Episode 284 on SGMA, Kevin Rost (Apollo Ag Technologies) and host Craig Macmillan kept the conversation going—and it was too good not to share. In this bonus episode, Kevin dives deeper into the benefits of maintaining irrigation distribution uniformity, selecting cover crops...
About this show
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.
Hosted by
Vineyard Team