Declining groundwater levels and increasing pressure under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act are changing how California wine growers think about water. What was once largely an operational concern is now directly tied to long-term viability, regulatory compliance, and sustainability planning. These issues were front and center during a session at the 2025 WIN Expo, where vineyard operators, hydrologists, and county leaders discussed how groundwater management is evolving and what growers can do to stay ahead. Moderated by Val King, Director of Channel Partnerships at Verdi, the session underscored a clear reality. There is no single solution, but there is a shift toward local control, better data, and practical changes in vineyard management. SGMA Was Built to Be Local, Not One-Size-Fits-All Your browser does not support HTML5 video. SGMA is often misunderstood as a rigid, top-down mandate. In reality, it was designed around California’s variability in geology, climate

Shorter harvests fail to stir uncertain bulk market The Northern Hemisphere harvests are in full swing and this month’s report relays the latest news from the vineyards on crop size and grape quality. Only one of California, France, Spain and Italy appears on course for a crop size in line with its five-year average, the others look set to come in short to varying extents, whether due to Mother Nature, vineyard removals/mothballing, or both. But with inventories long and North American and European retail sales of wine continuing to struggle, the bulk market has been largely unmoved. This month’s report identifies the activity that has occurred. Inflation and a cost-of-living squeeze are increasingly cropping up again in industry conversations. While the worst of the post-pandemic inflationary tailwinds are in the past, grocery and energy prices remain significantly elevated versus 3-5 years ago and consumers are reducing their spending on discretionary items accordingly.

  Sustainable farming practices are essential for protecting the environment, improving long-term agricultural productivity, and supporting healthy communities. In fact, many of the methods highlighted today are shared across a variety of certification programs, from sustainable certifications like SIP Certified to regenerative programs like Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). While each certification has its own specific requirements, the core principles of responsible farming remain consistent. In this week’s Marketing Tip, we’ll take a closer look at three key areas – Water Management, Soil Health, and Habitat Preservation – and how sustainable farmers manage them to ensure future success. Water Management Water is one of agriculture’s most critical resources. Sustainable farmers work carefully to both use water efficiently and protect water quality.   Efficient Irrigation Anyone who has struggled to keep a plant alive knows that plants

A Vibrant Future USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant Field Day Description: An in-depth look at the intricacies, logistics, challenges, and effects of grazing sheep in vineyards. A vineyard tour and grazing demo with owner/operator Anna DeLaski of Solminer followed by a panel discussion led by Gabe Worthington (MTI Soil Scientist/ Certified Crop Advisor) on the effects of incorporating grazing into permanent cropping systems.  Speakers: Anna DeLaski, Solminer Gabe Worthington, MTI Kelly Mulville, Paicines Ranch Hillary Graves, Booker Vineyard Mindy Record, Paso de Record & JUSTIN Vineyards Randy Record, Paso de Record Cole Bakke, IOU Sheep Co.  REGISTER CE Approved: CCA 2 S

Description: Join us for an in depth look at the intricacies, logistics, challenges, and effects of grazing sheep in vineyards. Owner/operator Anna DeLaski of Solminer will guide a vineyard tour and grazing demo, followed by a panel discussion led by Gabe Worthington (MTI Soil Scientist/ Certified Crop Advisor) on the effects of incorporating grazing into permanent cropping systems.  Speakers: Anna DeLaski, Solminer Gabe Worthington, MTI Soil Scientist/ Certified Crop Advisor Kelly Mulville, Paicines Ranch Hillary Graves, Booker Vineyard Mindy Record, Paso de Record & JUSTIN Vineyards Cole Bakke, IOU Sheep Co. REGISTER CE Approved: CCA 2 S Project Partners: International Fresh Produce Association, Measure to Improve, Vineyard Team We would like to thank the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodity Grant for the investment in expanding markets for U.S. climate-smart commodities, leveraging the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commod

With a new year underway, we at Ciatti wish all of our friends, clients and business associates a very happy and prosperous 12 months ahead. Many thanks for your continued support.  If 2022 was characterised by rising inflation levels, and 2023 by interest-rate increases to tackle inflation, then 2024 was characterised by the hangover. A word for it was coined: “Vibecession” – a disconnect between the more positive economic indicators emerging through the year and consumer perceptions of the economy. In some cases, earnings increases have lagged 2021-23 inflation, reducing spending power outright. But more pervasive is a sense of a “cost-of-living crisis”: essential living expenses – mortgages, rent, fuel, energy – are noticeably higher than four years ago and constitute a greater share of total spend. As we observed in September, in a discretionary-spending squeeze, “wine’s higher price per alcohol unit versus its ever-prolif

Lange Twins has implemented individual regenerative practices but now they are asking, what would happen if they stacked them? Kendra Altnow, Sustainability Manager at Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards and a 5th generation Lange shares Project Terra. The goals are to increase biodiversity, build and enrich the soil and improve watersheds through shifting farming practices, restoration, and conservation. They are accomplishing this through grazing livestock, establishing permeant ground cover, reducing tillage, improving native habitat, and reducing reliance on herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. LISTEN IN Resources:         REGISTER | June 12, 2024 : Regenerative Agriculture in a Production Vineyard 2.0 Tailgate 121: Regenerative Agriculture (Rebroadcast) BIFS Field Day Cover Cropping and Livestock Grazing for Regenerative Agriculture Blue Point Conservation Science California Department of Farming and Agriculture Center for Land Based Learning Commun

Trying to manage the weeds in your vineyard? John Roncoroni, Weed Science Farm Advisor Emeritus with the University of California Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources covers control practices including biological, mechanical, cultural, chemical, and perhaps in the future, electrocution. Although weeds rarely compete with vines, they can host insect and vertebrate pests and get in the way of pruning crews, increasing labor costs. Listen in for John’s number one tip to better manage weeds in your vineyard. LISTEN IN Resources:           128: A New Focus on Weed Management (Rebroadcast) 26th IPM Seminar #1: Sustainable Weed Management for Vineyards and Vineyard Ponds Herbicide-resistant weeds challenge some signature cropping systems (Journal article) John Roncoroni MAINTAINING LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT: Herbicide-resistant weeds challenge some signature cropping systems Post-harvest Weed Control with Napa RCD and John Roncoroni (video) Sus

A sequel to our Regenerative Agriculture Tailgate in 2023: Visit a production vineyard with an ongoing, long-term investigation into the adoption of regenerative practices. This Tailgate picks up on the research shared at the 2023 Tailgate hosted at Jackson Family Wines. REGISTER Bart Haycfraft of Jackson Family Wines will give an update on their long-term regenerative research project including soil health, cover-cropping, and fruit quality. Plus, he will discuss how to measure “improvement” or progress and what tools can be used.  Taniell Liepner of Biomemakers will present research to assess the soil microbiome, as well as recent projects to improve soil health. Jo Ann Baumgartner (Wild Farm Alliance) will join in to discuss how to support beneficial birds in the vineyard by evaluating the food, water, cover, and having a nesting habitat present. She will educate attendees about the natural pest management strategies of putting up nest boxes and usin

How to Shoot Like a Professional Photographer With Your iPhone 1. COMPOSITION One of the top things most budding photographers struggle with is composition. Google it, and you’ll find all kinds of stuff about leading lines, diagonals, perspective, and even the Fibonacci spiral. But one basic rule of composition will instantly improve your images. The Rule of Thirds. Use your camera’s grid to place your object of interest on one of the crosshairs instead of in the center. This allows your subject to stand out from negative space and draw the viewer’s eye where you want it. Good composition creates balance and movement within the image. It helps tell a story and provides direction for the viewer’s eyes. To turn on your grid, go to Settings > Camera, turn on the grid. While you’re there, turn on the Level as well. 2. STRAIGHTEN YOUR HORIZON A major tell of a bad photo is a landscape that seems to be falling off the page. Using the grid and level you&rsq