February 10, 2026 (Napa / Sonoma, CA) — On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m., the Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable of the Napa-Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense (WWS) will host a timely proprietary technical presentation, “Vintage 2025 ETS Insights and New Tech Updates for Red Blotch and Smoke Taint.“ The event opens with a networking wine mingle at Crocker & Starr followed by a behind-the-scenes production tour and an engaging technical viticulture and winemaking research presentation and discussion with guest experts from ETS Labs research scientists Dr. Rich DeScenzo and Dr. Eric Hervé. This presentation will focus on actionable information to help winemaking and viticulture attendees get a strategic first look at vintage 2025 overall, plus the latest technological updates related to Red Blotch disease and smoke taint.  Attendees will hear this first synthesis of proprietary 2025 data and the additional research,

Precision irrigation automation has never been accessible for most viticulturists. Because it’s expensive and complicated, only the largest producers with sizable budgets could afford its benefits – until now. Since its inception, Verdi has thrown open the door to a high quality, affordable, user-installed irrigation automation system for wine grape growers at all levels of production. Verdi allows irrigation to be managed on multiple properties manually, remotely, with schedules, and by utilizing farm sensors that notify the system when crops require additional water. It also alerts them when there are problems, so they always know if their watering systems are functioning properly. “We installed Verdi on a couple of our properties, which historically had been difficult to manage as far as irrigation and immediately I noticed just the labor cost savings overall.” — Stephanie Adamson, Irrigation Technician, Quails Gate Winery The Verdi system solves anot

At Scout, we believe this is the perfect time to modernize and optimize vineyard operations, empowering great farmers to meet their financial and quality goals more efficiently. Our software enables viticulturists and vineyard operations teams to harness the power of AI enabled insights to automate inventory, refine yield estimates, monitor weak vines, and improve overall vineyard quality. This ultimately extends the vineyard’s lifespan and enhances its sustainability, both from a health and financial perspective.

Winegrowers are nothing if not adaptable, given that the grape is a harbinger crop, or in more prosaic terms, the canary in the coal mine for agriculture. As a result, when climate shifts generate more frequent heat waves of higher temperatures and longer duration, viticulturists swing into action with a toolbox of methods to mitigate the effects.  Growers use misters to cool the air around the grapes, irrigate in advance of heat waves to prevent dehydration, and even apply anti-transpirants that work like sunscreen to protect from sun damage. Medium-term options include changing canopy management to delay ripening and using regenerative farming techniques to boost water retention in the soil.  The most aggressive strategies involve relocating vineyards to cooler microclimates or pulling up and replacing less heat-tolerant varietals. However, vineyard owners are unlikely to invest in these approaches while consumption and demand are declining.  A better alternative wou

It’s generally believed that farmers are slow to adopt new technology. Yet, while this adage may be true for more expensive and untested innovations, when a new technology is practical, affordable and can prove its value and reliability, farmers will indeed set aside their innate caution and readily invest. Tyler Klick is a case in point. As the viticulturist and a co-owner of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management in Geyserville, CA, he decided to try an innovative smart irrigation technology developed by Lumo. Klick first installed Lumo smart valves on a few client vineyards last season. After seeing how they helped increase labor efficiency, reduce wasted water, and improve clients’ crop outcomes, he rolled it out to more than a dozen vineyards his company manages. “I’d love to get to a point where all of our clients have it installed,” says Klick. Lumo smart valves also help West Coast viticulturists adjust to changing weather patterns, which have brought

After veraison, as grapes develop their enticing color in the vineyard, the age-old battle between man and nature — in the form of hungry birds — begins. Vintners and farmers have experimented with gas cannons, reflective flash tape, sonic sound systems, drones and netting to scare off their voracious flying opponents. But, the noise of cannons and sonics can irritate neighbors, and drones and netting are labor intensive, making them too expensive to maintain. Nature often provides the best solution, and in the case of birds raiding vineyards, the natural solution is birds of prey like falcons. Small birds' instinctive fear of their natural predators causes the flock to shift direction, saving the crop from invasion. After five decades in the bird abatement business, Falcon Crop Protection has an intimate knowledge of bird behavior and has brought this knowledge to wine country after their marketing manager moved to Healdsburg, launching Falcon Crop Protection to help

The wine industry is evolving toward a circular economy. Pioneers in this movement include viticulturists who began the transition to regenerative agriculture and wineries leading the move to renewable energy like solar fields or more sustainable materials, such as lightweight bottles and post-consumer recycled labels. Efforts are spreading from these innovators to the broader industry as the impacts of climate change increase the urgency and neighbors see the effectiveness of these solutions. “While every industry is subject to trends, it is especially true for wine,” says Michael Garretson, who manages the RafCycle program at UPM Raflatac. “That could be because these companies are close neighbors. Driving along Highway 29 through Napa Valley, you see one winery after another. The same is true in Sonoma or Santa Barbara. They know each other; they’re members of the same organizations, attend the same conferences and events, and talk to each other. Even for a g

Decades of Dedication: A Special Tribute to Vineyard Team Members Vineyard Team, a trailblazer in sustainable viticulture, was founded on the principle of fostering sustainable stewardship. For the last 30 years, the organization has stood as a beacon for innovation, education, and community in the wine industry. As they celebrate this milestone, Vineyard Team takes immense pride in recognizing some of its longest-standing members and supporters, whose dedication and passion have been pivotal to the organization’s success. Their contributions shape the landscape of sustainable winegrowing and ensure the legacy of Vineyard Team for future generations. Steve McIntyre, one of California’s most knowledgeable viticulturists and founding member of Vineyard Team, reflects on the significance of the organization: "We felt it was really important within the wine and grape industry to not only be science-based, but also able to change and adapt to information as it was dis

Registration Open for Growing Forward Session 2

Second Session Discussion Around Emerging Irrigation Practices and Technologies in the Vineyard Healdsburg, CA (May 22, 2024) Wine Industry

InnoVint and Smith Story Wine Cellars are hosting a Punchdown Hangout event in Healdsburg, CA for winery owners, winemakers, and industry professionals.  THE DETAILS: 🗓️  Thursday, May 30th ⏰ 4:00-7:00 pm 📍 Smith Story Wines, 14210 Bacchus Lndg Wy Ste. 200, Healdsburg, CA 95448 WHAT TO EXPECT: 🍇 Networking: Rub shoulders with fellow winemakers, viticulturists, and industry professionals behind the wines of your region. 🍇 Wine Tasting + Light Refreshments: Savor a selection of locally crafted wines, showcasing the unique terroir and winemaking expertise of our gracious host winery, Smith Story Wines, thoughtfully paired with charcuterie. 🍇 Story Telling: Learn the story behind Smith Story Wines, and discuss what a healthy winery looks like. This event is FREE, but please RSVP at this link. Feel free to share with your friends who may also like to join us!