Red blotch is not an issue any grower manages alone. Because viruses move across property lines, effective management depends on coordination, communication, and shared strategy. This Grower Field Day brings neighbors together in the vineyard to explore practical, field-tested approaches to managing red blotch at the block and neighborhood scale. Hosted at Beckstoffer Vineyards, vineyard manager Brian Hoefgen and viticulturist Jacob Maus, will focus on what collaboration actually looks like in practice, from coordinated monitoring to joint trials and shared decision-making. Researchers and industry experts including Luca Brillante, Malcom Hobbs, and David Andrada will discuss tools growers can use together, including hyperspectral imaging, and lessons learned from neighborhood-based virus response efforts. Designed to be informal and field-based, this session emphasizes observation, discussion, and real-world application. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how co

In this WIN Insider episode, George interviews Andy Beckstoffer, the pioneering Napa Valley vineyard owner who transformed California’s wine industry despite having no agricultural background. From his engineering roots in Virginia to becoming one of the most influential growers in the business, Andy shares how he revolutionized grape pricing by tying it to retail bottle prices rather than commodity tonnage, forever changing grower-winery relationships. He discusses his strategic focus on premium terroir, acquisition of historic vineyards, expansion into Mendocino and Lake Counties, and offers candid insights on current industry challenges, including shifting consumer demographics and economic pressures. Despite these headwinds, Andy remains optimistic about premium wine’s future and shares invaluable advice for young growers on maintaining quality and building lasting relationships.

More Than 220,000 Acres in California are Enrolled in FFF Program  NAPA, Calif. (November 25, 2024) – Thirty-two winegrape growers and wineries from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties have been recognized with the Founders’ Award from the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program for achieving and maintaining certification for more than 20 years. In 1999, the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program was created to protect and enhance the Russian River watershed in Sonoma County. Soon, it was expanded with a specific program tailored for Napa County and other regions. Today, more than 220,000 acres located in thirteen counties in California are enrolled in the innovative program that improves water quality and wildlife habitat. “The Fish Friendly Farming certification has become very popular among winegrowers as a sustainable certification program because it is highly effective in improving water quality and restoring fish and wildlife habitat,&rd

Afternoon Brief, August 4th

Rising Temperatures Could Impact Quality of Grapes Used to Make Wine in Napa Valley, Researchers Say: Rising temperatures are shifting the growing season in Napa Valley’s wine country, which could impact grape growth and alter the types of wine that originate from the region, according to new research and wine experts...

Afternoon Brief, May 8th

Willamette Valley Wineries Hire Fire Litigation Lawyers to Investigate Suing Pacific Power for Grape and Wine Losses Arising from the 2020 Labor Day Fires: Today Willamette Valley Vineyards, Brigadoon Wine Co., Samuel Robert Winery, Retraite, LLC (fka Lingua Franca – LS Vineyards Holdings, LLC), and Elk Cove Vineyards Inc. announced they have hired a well-known legal team to investigate filing suit against Pacific Power, a division of PacifiCorp, in the Oregon state circuit courts...

Afternoon Brief, April 17th

Oregon State Researchers Make Breakthrough in Understanding the Chemistry of Wildfire Smoke in Wine: Oregon State University researchers have discovered a new class of compounds that contributes to the ashy or smoky flavors in wine made with grapes exposed to wildfire smoke...

Afternoon Brief, April 10th

DTC Impact Report: Outreach and Inclusion Attract Younger Drinkers: The 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Impact Report offers a variety of key insights on trends and developments in tasting rooms and DtC over the last year...