🌱 Holistic Soil Health Tailgate | Join the Conversation in the Field 📅 Friday, May 8, 9-11 am at Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery What does soil health look like in practice? Join us in the field where growers, researchers, and industry professionals will come together to share what’s working. You’ll hear from: • Jenny Garley (Bio SI) — using sap sugar levels as a practical indicator of plant and soil health • Stewart Wilson, PhD (Cal Poly) — soil science insights grounded in current research • Mike Costello (Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative) — funding opportunities for cover crops and soil-building practices Plus, a grower panel featuring: • Bob Tillman (Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery) • John Howell (@Booker Vineyards) • Jordan Lonborg (Coastal Vineyard Care Associates) • Steve Vierra (Derby Wine Estates) This is a chance to hear directly from peers, ask questions, and walk away with ideas you can apply. Bring your questions—and your experience! 👉https://secure.qgiv.com/f

Building healthy soils is key to resilient vineyards—but how do you measure success, and which practices truly move the needle? Join us for an in-field discussion exploring soil health from multiple angles, starting with three presentations: Jenny Garley (Bio SI) will share insights on using sap sugar levels as a practical indicator of plant and soil health, highlighting how increased microbial activity (especially fungi) can boost photosynthesis and overall vineyard performance. Dr. Stewart Wilson (Cal Poly) will provide a soil science perspective, grounding the conversation in the latest research and field applications. Mike Costello (Oakville Bluegrass) will outline current funding and grant opportunities available to growers, with a focus on cover crops and soil-building practices. We’ll then transition to a grower panel led by host Bob Tillman, sharing real-world experience implementing regenerative practices. REGISTER

When we launched the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast in 2016, we weren’t sure where it would go. Now, 300 episodes later, it’s become a go-to resource for growers, researchers, educators, and wine industry professionals dedicated to sustainability. To mark this milestone, we flipped the mic around and interviewed our host, Craig Macmillan, PhD — long-time vineyard and winery professional, educator, and now podcasting veteran — to reflect on some favorite episodes, meaningful moments, and what’s ahead. From Zoom Recordings to Global Reach Craig began hosting when the podcast was just an idea sparked by the Vineyard Team’s goal to make sustainable winegrowing knowledge more accessible. “I wasn't a podcast listener at all,” Craig admits. “But I said sure, why not? Let's try it.” Since then, the show has featured scientists, growers, and innovators from all over the world, creating a ripple effect of conversations and c

This November, growers and agricultural professionals will gather in San Luis Obispo for the 2025 Sustainable Ag Expo, an event designed to foster innovation, provide high-impact education, and create meaningful connections across the wine and agricultural industries. When/Where: Kick-Off Event - Monday, November 10, 5:00-7:00 pm  |  at Center of Effort Winery Trade Show & Seminars - Tuesday, November 11 & Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 am-5:00 pm  |  at Madonna Expo Center What to Expect The 2025 program offers a robust lineup of content focused on critical topics like climate resilience, automation, and workforce development, with 17 in-person seminars offering 20+ hours of CE credit. Two-day ticket holders also receive access to 13 online courses with an additional 10+ CE hours available from October 13–November 28. Even More Opportunities to Connect and Learn Kick-Off Event: The event begins with a special Monday Night Kick-Off hosted at Cen

Learn innovative methods for managing bird and vertebrate pests in vineyards. Bart Haycraft (Jackson Family Wines) and falconer Pogerof Scott discuss using falconry to deter birds. Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) shares his use of an autonomous bird laser deterrent. Kevin Garcia Lopez and Sarah Lord (Cal Poly) will present their barn owl research, focusing on nest box occupancy and how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. The event will feature a live falconry demonstration and give attendees the opportunity to view a bird laser, including the autonomous bird laser deterrent system. Speakers: Bart Haycraft, Jackson Family Wines Pogerof Scott, Falconer Chad Foster, Maverick Farming  Joseph Traut, Cypress Agritech Graham Evans, Cypress Agritech Riley Boylan, Cypress Agritech Kevin Garcia Lopez, Cal Poly Sarah Lord, Cal Poly CE Approved: DPR 2 - O; CCA 2 - IPM

Sustainable Story | Happy, Helping Hooves Weeds challenge farms of all sizes. When Melani Harding, Owner and Winemaker at Bon Niche Cellars, decided to stop using herbicides, weeds got out of hand and she looked for more sustainable control methods. She adopted Nigerian dwarf goats, who promptly began cleaning up the property. But since they’ll gladly eat budding and maturing grapes, they can only free-roam the vineyard between harvest and bud break. Babydoll sheep joined the crew next. They are the perfect height for removing excess vine leaves… which also means they can reach the fruit! They also must leave the vineyard at bud break and are welcome back with the goats after harvest. Melani wanted to achieve year-round weed control. After some research, she found the perfect solution: Kunekune pigs with short stature and a natural inclination for grazing. In 2021, Gilbert the Pig joined the farm and quickly became a local celebrity. Over the years, Melani has established

You can glean a lot of information about a wine from the label. The next time you walk down a wine aisle, you may notice that you feel comfortable with the common terms and symbols like vintage, place of origin, and percent alcohol, but feel some confusion when you see some of the increasingly present ones like natural, vegan, and organic. In this week’s Marketing Tip, we’re giving you a green wine glossary: 5 common wine designations defined so you’ll wonder no longer.   Your Green Wine Glossary Vegan  Not every wine fits a vegan lifestyle. During the winemaking process, small particles can cause haziness or unwanted flavor properties. Winemakers can add a fining agent that will bind to these tiny particles and make them large enough to be filtered out. Many fining agents are animal-based – for example: egg whites, casein, and gelatin. Wine that was fined with any of these materials cannot be considered vegan. Vegan wines include those that

  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

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

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