At Sunridge Nurseries, innovation isn’t a buzzword, it’s built into every step of our production process. We’ve intentionally partnered with industry-leading technology providers to ensure every vine we ship is grown with precision, consistency, and plant health as the priority. Here’s how technology has elevated our nursery program: Precision Fertigation FLOREP / RiTech Using the Nutritech system from RiTech, we fertigate with customized nutrient formulations based on crop type and growth stage. Each formula is pre-programmed and can be adjusted instantly, allowing us to deliver the exact nutrients our vines need at each stage from planting through shipping.   Advanced Plant Health SOBionics Hidroblue System Our Hidroblue system produces hypochlorous acid (HClO), a non-toxic solution that keeps irrigation lines clean and significantly effective at preventing and treating fungal and bacterial plant diseases. Since implementing this system, we’ve seen

Presented by Vineyard Team, the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast continued to be a go‑to resource for vineyard and winery professionals, delivering timely, practical insights straight from researchers and growers shaping the future of sustainable viticulture. From hybrid grapes and soil health to AI‑driven climate strategies and market dynamics, last year’s five most listened‑to episodes offered information listeners can apply immediately in their operations.  Beyond Foxy: The Case for Hybrid Winegrapes Episode 274 | Listen now  Forget everything you thought you knew about hybrid grapes. Adam Huss (Centralas Cellars) makes the case for these resilient, quality-driven varieties and why they’re gaining traction in a warming world.  Fungicide Resistance in Powdery and Downy Mildew: 10 Years of Vineyard Research Episode 278 | Listen now  Ismail Ahmed Ismail (South Australian Research and Development Institute) unpacks a decade of data on fungicide resist

Explore the latest ENTAV varieties released featuring polygenic resistance. Each of the varieties carry two specific genes resistant to both powdery and downy mildew. These innovative varietals not only enhance resilience against various challenges but also promise improved yields. For order inquiries or for more information, please contact your sales representative.  Floreal vigorous variety moderate size berries aromatic, fresh with notes of exotic fruits and boxwood Voltis  vigorous variety moderate size berries variety can be used for sparkling wines Artaban average vigor moderate size berries light, silky, fruity notes intended for fast consumption Vidoc  vigorous variety small berries powerful, robust, intense color wine with fruity and spicy notes If you are interested in sampling any of these wines this winter, please contact your sales representative below. Andrew Jones VP of Sales - Winegrapes 805-234-4920 andrew@sridge.net Annie Steimle Regional Sales Man

After a wet winter and a slow start to spring, California is now experiencing an unusually cool summer. While the extended hang time may sound ideal at first glance, many winemakers are concerned, and for good reason. Persistent cool, damp weather during the growing season brings with it an entirely different set of vineyard and cellar challenges, from disease pressure to delays in ripening. If you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking about how this season’s cooler conditions may affect your fruit, and how to plan ahead to protect your wine’s quality. What’s the Problem with a Cool Summer? Cooler-than-average temperatures, especially when paired with humidity or late rains, can lead to several problematic outcomes in the vineyard: Delayed Ripening: Grapes take longer to reach phenolic maturity, and sugar accumulation may lag behind flavor development. This can result in unbalanced fruit and longer hang time on the vines. Increased Disease Pressure:

Fungal pressures are complex in Michigan State’s humid continental climate. Andy Fles, Vineyard Manager at Shady Lane Cellars, uses a fungicide program that's about 50% organic, but he wondered if even softer products could keep diseases at bay. Andy got a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant and set up an experiment to test his usual program and softer products against four common fungal diseases: Powdery Mildew Downy Mildew Sour Rot Botrytis His conventional method included bacterium-based products and neonicotinoids, while his soft program leaned more on oils like stylet, neem, thyme, and orange; and a Lupin seed extract product. Andy counted infected leaves to assess mildew pressure. To assess botrytis and sour rot, teams from Michigan State University, Rufus Isaacs Lab, and Tim Miles Lab ran tests on clusters from each treatment. The project is ongoing, but results so far show that the soft products are keeping pace with his standard program.

Grapevine diseases like powdery mildew and grapevine leafroll can devastate yield and quality, but most vineyards still rely on manual scouting and delayed responses. At Vivid Machines, we’re changing that.  Our Vivid XV3 system uses computer vision technology to detect disease early, monitor canopy health, and deliver real-time data so growers can act fast, treat precisely, and protect their crops more sustainably! Learn how early detection is helping vineyards improve yield, reduce input costs, and make smarter decisions all season long. https://www.vivid-machines.com/blog/early-detection-better-protection---ais-role-in-vineyard-disease-management-canopy-health

The best powdery mildew scout on the planet! Detect Grape Powdery Mildew spores in your vineyard BEFORE an infection occurs. CVC's Grape Powdery Mildew Network provides growers with county-wide detection maps. CVC delivers the reliable information needed to improve your spray program's efficiency and effectiveness. Direct your scouting and spraying teams where they are needed first. Samples are collected weekly or twice a week by CVC's trained staff. Your quantified spore count report alerts you when powdery mildew spores are present!  CVC's new "Spore Trap 800" samples 500% more air volume than competing spore traps. The Spore Trap 800 is field proven, has improved spore detection with a smaller carbon footprint!

A follow up to a 2024 Tailgate, Dr. Shunping Ding of Cal Poly will share updated results from a recent study on on the efficacy of different fungicide programs containing biofungicides and their impact on grape yield and berry chemistry. Then, we will head out to the vineyard at Cal Poly to learn about new technologies for integrated management of powdery mildew and talk with farmers from different growing regions about their fungicide programs. Plus, arrive early to learn about Cal Poly’s wine & vit programs during a tour of the new, state of the art winery and vineyard! Agenda: 8:30 am - Winery Tour with Erica Nordby, CalPoly 9:00 - 9:30 am - Dr. Ding, Cal Poly - Presentation 9:45 - 11:00 am - Presentation & Grower Panel in the Vineyard Speakers: Erica Nordby, Cal Poly Shunping Ding, Cal Poly Jenny Broome, UC Santa Cruz Sarah Placella, Root Applied Sciences Dr. Pal From, Saga Robotics Erin Amaral, Pacific Coast Farming Zach Merkel,&

The ninth annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Emily Hodson, the winemaker at Veritas Vineyards and Winery, a co-owner of Flying Fox Vineyards and Winery, and an active leader in the Virginia wine industry. Members of the Smith family and sponsoring organizations present the Rich Smith award to Emily Hodson (third from left). The prestigious award annually reflects the spirit and accomplishments of the late Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management and Smith Family Wines in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands wine region in Monterey County. Rich was first and foremost a family man, but also a successful grape grower and winery owner, and a highly respected colleague known for the combination of passion, commitment and collaboration which helped advance the American grape and wine industry. Ever since Rich passed away in December 2015, three organizations—WineAmerica, N

To conclude a year defined by forward-thinking practices and community engagement, we at Vineyard Team proudly share an annual review to highlight our industry’s significant achievements and ongoing commitment to sustainable winegrowing. In 2024, we hosted 8 Tailgates and 2 collaborative events across 3 counties, offering over 20 continuing education (CE) hours to growers and ag professionals. These events strengthened the sense of community, supported five local coffee shops, and fostered the formation of countless new friendships. November’s annual Sustainable Ag Expo included: 531 attendees 63 exhibitors 3 special networking opportunities 16 in-person seminars 13 online courses 29 hours of continuing education  147 attendees experienced streamlined DPR reporting through a collaboration with CE Reported. All attendees enjoyed 38 gallons of coffee, 205 donuts, 26 bottles of wine, and 600 ounces of beer in the event’s lively and engaging atm