Kick things off Monday, November 10 with an exclusive welcome event at Center of Effort Winery, then join us for two full days of seminar, and networking on November 11–12 at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo. What to expect:  • Expert-led sessions & cutting-edge research on soil health, climate-smart farming, ag-technology, and more  • Practical, field-tested strategies you can implement immediately  • Earn continuing education hours as you learn  • Networking opportunities with fellow growers, researchers and sustainable ag businesses Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical know-how, explore new innovations, or forge partnerships across the industry, the Sustainable Ag Expo delivers practical value for every ag professional. 🔗 View the full in-person schedule and secure your spot.

We’ve got great news for growers and ag professionals looking to knock out some continuing education—11 of Vineyard Team’s most popular online courses are now re-released and approved for DPR and CCA hours! Each course has been updated with new codes and fresh certificates, so even if you’ve taken them before, you can enroll again and earn credit. Whether you need to maintain your license or just want to stay sharp on sustainable farming practices, these courses offer valuable, accessible education at just $10 each. Enroll today and start learning at your own pace! GO TO COURSES *Don't forget to revisit CE requirements and make sure your license number is attached to your account.

by Miguel SandovalWhen people think about Wine Fulfillment, they often imagine the final mile—packages arriving on doorsteps like shiny new pickups rolling off the lot. It’s the glamorous part. Cue client smiles, thank-you emails, corks popping, and the sweet smell of success. But before we get to the harvest (aka delivery), there’s some serious groundwork that has to happen. And at the heart of that is receiving—the engine under the hood, the plow before the plant, the grease that keeps the gears turning. Let me break it down. Receiving: The Tractor That Starts the Season Receiving is the first step in the lifecycle of a product here at Copper Peak Logistics, and just like in farming, if you don’t prep the soil right, you can forget about a good crop. In logistics terms, receiving is the moment your inventory rolls in and we say, “Alright, let’s get to work.” We inspect it, sort it, scan it, and make sure everything is just as it should

Sonoma County Winegrowers Focus on Creating Experiences to Engage New and Existing Wine Lovers SANTA ROSA, Calif. (January 17, 2025) – For over a decade, Sonoma County Winegrowers has been at the forefront of innovation, forging powerful partnerships with iconic brands like John Deere, Ford Pro, Wilbur Ellis, Landry’s, and the San Francisco Giants. As unveiled at this week’s annual Dollars & $ense meeting, held virtually, 2025 marks a year dedicated to “Renewing, Building, and Growing” these renowned programs, expanding their reach, amplifying the Sonoma County story, and setting new benchmarks in excellence. As Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, started her presentation with a review of the past twelve years since she joined the organization, it was clear that the results in building the brand’s visibility over the years has been successful. From being world leaders in sustainability, to sports ma

National Storage Tank began in the Napa Valley, Our roots are in wine, and they are deep, we served the needs of the Wine Industry in Napa & Sonoma Counties for years before we began to branch out into other industries. Behind all the prestige and panache involved in the Wine Industry, there are two things we always keep in mind; Agriculture and Manufacturing. We never forget neither the farmers nor the vintners, and from field to press and have been facilitating both for a long time.  Water Storage Tanks Irrigation is essential, water on demand for crops, and frost prevention. Our tanks come in a wide variety of gallon capacities from 5,000 to 5 million and can be fitted with outlets of any size for maximum water draw, anti-vortex systems are second nature to us as well. Your crop needs a consistent and reliable water source because grapes grow and the weather changes often so vineyards have to be ready at a moment’s notice. Our Corrugated Bolted Steel Tanks have

The “consumption” section of the Organization of Vine & Wine’s recently published ‘State of the World Vine & Wine Sector 2023’ made for sober reading. Consumption in 2023 was estimated at 221 million hectolitres, down 2.6% versus 2022 and the lowest level since 1996. The growth gains made between that year and the consumption peak in 2007 have since completely unwound – despite the global population having risen by 1.5 billion in the meantime.  The OIV listed potential reasons for the contraction: a not inconsiderable drop in Chinese consumption of 2.0 million hectolitres per annum since 2018, pandemic lockdowns in 2020 (although this was offset by a rebound in 2021), and – since 2022 – energy crises and global inflationary pressures that have “exerted considerable pressure on consumer purchasing power”.  This assessment may betray some recency bias, as the decline in global consumption was already being disc

DEC 14, 2023 TALKING TO THE QUEEN OF WINE INDUSTRY DIGITAL ENDEAVORS ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SMALL WINERY WEBSITE IN 2024… To round out 2023 on a high note, this week we have an interview with the incredible Susan DeMatei of WineGlass Marketing, talking about how small wineries can maximize their websites in 2024. Susan is the absolute guru when it comes to the unique challenges and opportunities that wineries have in the digital space, and I’m beyond thrilled that she has agreed to talk us. WHAT ARE SOME MISTAKES THAT YOU SEE SMALL WINERIES MAKING ON THEIR WEBSITES? Underestimating the impact of the internet. I get it. As a small winery you’re forced to deal with the fires right in front of you: The machinery that needs fixing, the staff that needs your attention, the utilities that need to get paid and the customers coming to your door. But while you’re doing those very important things, hundreds, if not thousands, of people will see your website this mon

While associated with fun and frivolity, sparkling wine is a complex wine of many moving parts that requires serious skill to make. We catch up with some of the leading lights in the fizz industry, from Champagne, Spain and England, to find out the secrets of their craft and the challenges surrounding creating a consistent sparkling wine style in an ever-changing climate. Synonymous with celebration, sparkling wines are easy to enjoy but challenging to create. Crafting quality fizz requires a skilled hand, well-trained nose, razor-sharp intuition and nerves of steel come harvest time, when deciding on the perfect moment to pick feels like a game of Russian roulette. Cellar masters are the wizards of the wine world, able to create a consistent style of wine each year from hundreds of elements amid increasingly erratic weather conditions. They have to be time travellers too, projecting themselves into the future when tasting aggressively acidic base wines, working out how they will harmo

Looking to fund your next water/energy-saving project? The CDFA's SWEEP grant is open for applications through January 18th.  There's still quite a bit of money up for grabs but it's going fast. Contact Loni at loni@advancedvit.com or (415) 619-4955 to discuss your project ideas and funding opportunities. SWEEP awards up to $200,000 per project to fund things like: Solar Soil moisture monitoring Plant stress sensors Irrigation automation Updating/replacing irrigation pumps  Installing flowmeters and well/tank depth sensors Installing Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) Installing weather stations Let AV help you take advantage of the over $40 million reserved for improving on-farm water use and energy. Don't forget to check out our most recent blogposts on soil moisture and upcoming legislation regarding ground water. Now is the time to invest in efficient resource management.  Installing soil probes is a great way to take advantage of this opportunity