Vineyard Soil Health & Microbial Biology: Improving Vine Resilience with Misha Vandal

What if the biggest lever for healthier vines, better fruit quality, and more resilient vineyards is belowground?In this episode, microbiologist and Napa Valley vineyard consultant Misha Vandal shares results from multi-site vineyard trials focused on soil health, vineyard management, and rebuilding microbial communities. We dig into how shifting the soil microbiome can support nutrient cycling, reduce fungal disease pressure, and even improve yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN)—a key quality metric for winemaking.Misha also explains why compost teas can work but often don’t scale, and what makes a broad microbial community approach more consistent than single-strain inoculants.If you manage wine grapes and are navigating heat stress, drought, grapevine red blotch, trunk diseases, or soil carbon decline, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why vineyard soil biology is becoming central to modern viticultureHow soil microbial imbalance can contribute to vine stress and declineKey grower challenges: heat, drought, water stress, viral disease, and trunk diseasesTrial results showing increases in beneficial microbes (including Pseudomonas and Bacillus)How one site moved from 0 YAN to 80 mg/L YAN after treatmentsCompost tea: why it’s valuable—and why it’s hard to scale across large acreagePractical tips for pairing microbial applications with biochar, soy hydrolysate, minerals, and low-dose sugarsAbout Our Guest: Misha VandalMisha Vandal is a microbiologist and independent crop consultant based in Napa Valley. With a background in microbial ecology and soil biology, he specializes in integrating regenerative agriculture practices into vineyard nutrient management systems.Listen Now If you’re navigating vine decline, nutrient inefficiency, or soil degradation in your vineyard, this episode offers practical, research-backed insight into how rebuilding soil microbial communities can support stronger vines and better wine.To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.