Afternoon Brief: New Study Shows Pierce’s Disease Investment Saves Winegrape Growers $56 Million Annually

According to a study released today, the California Department of Food and Agricultures Pierces disease (PD) and glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) prevention, control and research efforts save California winegrape growers $56 million annually by reducing losses from the fatal grapevine disease...

Afternoon Brief: Wine Industry Network Recognizes 5 Companies with 2024 WINnovation Awards

The winners of Wine Industry Networks 12th annual WINnovation Awards for excellence in wine industry innovation are...

Afternoon Brief, July 14th

Why This Wet, Cool Vintage Reminds Many North Coast Vintners of 2011: Some 2011 vintage wines have faced criticism for lacking the colors, flavors or acidity characteristic of North Coast red wines in the past 30 years...

Afternoon Brief, July 11th

PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment Set at $1.25 for 2023 Harvest: To continue funding crucial research combating winegrape pests and diseases, the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board kept the PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment rate at $1.25 per $1,000 value for the 2023 harvest...

Grower Assessment Rate for 2022 Harvest

SACRAMENTO, July 6, 2022 Last week the Pierces Disease / Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board (PD/GWSS Board) voted to set the grower assessment rate in support of the Pierces Disease []

Pierce's Disease has been a scourge of vineyards for well over a century. It was discovered near the end of the 19th century by Newton Pierce, so the disease took on his name after originally being given the name Anaheim Disease (having been discovered in that area’s vineyards well before Disney and all that pavement moved in). Pierce’s Disease (PD) is a nasty disease caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which is vectored by several different sharpshooter insects, including blue-green, red-headed and glassy-winged. The bacteria colonize the xylem vascular tissue. The bacterial colonies, along with gums that are exuded by the vine itself, clog the vessels and effectively choke off the vine’s water transport system. The disease is catastrophic in that it cannot usually be surgically removed from the vine and will most often quickly reduce both its fruit production and fruit quality before finishing off the job and killing the vine after a few years. It is n