A weekly podcast about edible gardening.
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What if you could hang out with experienced grape growers, ask them about the science of grape growing, vineyard operations, and more; then take an insight or two to improve your vineyard and ultimately the quality of the wines you produce? That’s what we do each week on the Vineyard Underground. Hosted by Fritz Westover –– viticulture expert more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at grape growing methods, care, and even complicated mat ...
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In this episode, we have a conversation on modern powdery mildew management with an expert on the subject, Dr. Michelle Moyer. A plant pathologist by training, Dr. Moyer is a professor and viticulture extension specialist at Washington State University. She has worked on the East Coast and the West Coast, helping people understand disease and pest …
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Ever wonder if removing leaves from young vines speeds up their growth? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. In this episode, we put five grape growing myths to bed and give you the clarity you need to nurture a thriving vineyard. Listen in to learn what the top five misheard grape growing concepts are – and find out if you are guilty of any of them. Whether…
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In this episode we discuss the benefits and practicalities of installing and using drip irrigation systems in vegetable gardens. We delve into the specifics of drip irrigation, explaining how it delivers water efficiently to the soil, reduces weed pressure, and minimizes water waste. We also cover the basics of setting up a drip system and the main…
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Adding organic matter to your garden is crucial for vegetable growing success, and for many gardeners, compost is the most readily available source of organic matter. In this episode we discuss how to use compost as a fall garden amendment to improve and protect your soil over the wet winter months.
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Hilary Dahl, host of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, announces a new season featuring guest gardening experts and enthusiasts. While Hilary continues to work on new episodes she'll be re-releasing a few timely fall favorites from the EB Podcast archives. This episode, "Cover Crops In The Home Garden", delves into the use of cover crops, explaini…
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The Virginia wine industry has experienced a phenomenal transformation over the past three decades, largely attributed to the efforts of dedicated individuals like Dr. Tony Wolf. From a mere six wineries in 1980, Virginia now boasts a $1.5 billion industry with over 300 wineries. In this episode, Dr. Wolf discusses what it was like when the wine in…
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055: Managing Cold Climate Vineyards & Dealing with Cold Damaged Vines with Kevin Ker – Part 2
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This episode is part two of our conversation with Kevin Ker of Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. We continue discussing cold climate vineyard management and how to help cold damaged vines thrive for years. Dr. Ker shares strategies for site establishment, seasonal management practices, and methods for assessing and…
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054: Managing Cold Climate Vineyards & Dealing with Cold Damaged Vines with Kevin Ker – Part 1
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Growing grapes in a cold climate presents unique challenges that are often more about dealing with winter injury than the growing season itself. According to Dr. Kevin Ker from Brock University’s Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute, the temperatures outside the growing season are what set cold climate viticulture apart. Ensuring vines li…
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In this episode, we sit down with Andy Niner, President of Niner Wine Estates, and Craig Macmillan, their Critical Resource Manager, to discuss sustainable vineyard management. The episode covers innovative water and soil management techniques, including rainwater capture, advanced monitoring tools, composting, and mechanical weed management. We al…
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We are back with everyone’s favorite kind of episode – a Q&A! This time, we are answering questions about harvest time. Questions came in from all over, including North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and even Portugal. Listen in to learn about irrigation post-harvest, late-season strategies, issues with high titratable acidity, and more. As harvest seaso…
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In this episode, we dive into Arizona's unique wine scene with a panel of guests: Todd Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks, Kent Callaghan of Callaghan Vineyards, and Pavle Milic of Los Milics Vineyards. Arizona's vineyards face a unique set of challenges, including extreme shifts in weather, from scorching heat to freezing temperatures, alongside hai…
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050: The Challenges and Successes of Growing Italian Cultivars Outside of Italy with Luca Paschina
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In this episode, we have a conversation with Luca Paschina, the estate director and winemaker for Barboursville Vineyards in Virginia. A third-generation winemaker from Alba, Italy, Luca has worked in Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Napa, and the Finger Lakes before settling in Virginia, where he expanded Barboursville Vineyards from 38 to 180 acres. In…
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In the cycle of vineyard management, every season brings its unique set of challenges and opportunities. As we navigate past fruit set but not quite at veraison, our focus should pivot to protecting and enhancing the quality of the fruit that is already on the vines. This period demands precise interventions to ensure the health and quality of our …
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In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Markus Keller of Washington State University on the advances in vineyard nutrition monitoring. Dr. Keller shares his extensive knowledge of the importance of nutrient management in viticulture, drawing from his rich background and current research. We discuss strategies for regulated deficit nutritio…
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Join us in this episode with Dr. Mark Krasnow, an acclaimed plant physiologist and the founder of Thoughtful Viticulture. From the landscapes of New Zealand, Dr. Krasnow takes us on a journey from budding winemaker to viticulture expert. Although we could discuss many topics with him, this discussion focuses on crop regulation and fruit thinning st…
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In this episode, we are back with another Q&A with my friend Jim Duane of Inside Winemaking. Back in episode 42, we answered some great listener questions about preparing your property, getting started in grape growing, managing pests, etc. We had so many questions pour in that we needed to make this a two-part series. To learn more about Jim and h…
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In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Marcelo Moretti on some best practices for vineyard floor management. We discuss integrated weed management strategies, the use of organic herbicides, and the implementation of cover crops to promote vine health and combat weeds. Dr. Moretti also shares the challenges and advantages of various non-tra…
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The first few months as a new grower can be the most nerve-wracking time of vineyard management. Everything is brand new and a little intimidating. Even a bug on a plant can be enough to raise an alarm because you simply don’t know if it’s going to ravage your vineyard or not. Viticulture consultant, Mark Chien joins me today to talk about survivin…
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In this episode, our guest Randy Heinzen, a vine management and vineyard business expert, discusses vine planting and site preparation for new vineyards or for existing growers looking to add new vineyard blocks. Randy, the owner and president of Vineyard Professional Services (VPS) in Paso Robles, CA, is a leading global expert in vineyard managem…
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of having a Q&A session with Jim Duane from Inside Winemaking. Jim has always been interested in winemaking and has been working in Napa Valley for over 20 years. Together, we are answering top questions submitted by listeners. We answer questions pertaining to replacing dead vines, digging in hardpan, natural p…
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Is your vineyard irrigated? If so, then this episode is for you! Dr. Franklin Gaudi, executive vice president of design for Laurel Ag & Water, is on the show to discuss the often-overlooked topic of irrigation distribution uniformity (DU). Distribution uniformity measures how evenly water gets applied to the field, and it’s a topic that’s not taken…
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The future of viticulture is evolving as the focus on sustainable agriculture improves and the search for environmentally friendly solutions becomes a priority. One of the most exciting areas in this sustainable revolution is the use of agricultural biologicals. Biologics are not new to the agricultural scene, but their potential is now being more …
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A common conversation in vineyard management is knowing how to spray your vineyard effectively. On today's episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Andrew Landers, who wrote the book on vineyard spraying. He brings more than 30 years of research and development on vineyard and orchard spraying technologies and techniques to share with us. In this e…
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Do you understand pruning wounds, infections of pruning wounds, and how to protect your vines? Grapevine pruning is an essential vineyard management practice that helps maintain plant health and fruit quality. However, this practice also exposes vines to various fungal diseases that can be detrimental to vineyard health. It’s important to know how …
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In today's episode, we are talking about unique or alternative pruning scenarios and methods with guests John Thull and Marco Tessari. We discuss viticulture for cold climates, unique pruning techniques from around the globe, and more. John has a degree in biology with a plant focus and spent time in Germany doing an apprenticeship. He now lives in…
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Happy New Year! In this episode, we welcome Joe Juniper of Vermillion Valley Vineyards, the second-largest vineyard in Ohio. In close proximity to Lake Erie, Joe is with us to discuss what it is like to grow vinifera in an area with very harsh winters. Joe has become an expert in managing extreme temperatures and precipitation variances, including …
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We are closing out the year with a grower Q&A episode! In this episode, Fritz is answering questions from growers all across the country on topics ranging from pre-pruning to disease prevention for 2024 and all things in between. Listen in, as you may have had some of these same questions in your vineyard, and stay tuned for more grower Q&A episode…
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Have you considered having your grape growing operation sustainably certified? In this episode, I have a conversation with Beth Vukmanic from the Vineyard Team on the impact and importance of sustainability certification programs for vineyards. Beth spent 12 years overseeing the Vineyard Team's Sustainability in Practice (SIP) certification program…
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We are back today for part two of our series “Six Essential Factors for Starting and Growing a Successful Vineyard.” Refer back to episode 32 for part one of the series if you haven’t listened to it yet. Just make sure you listen to both episodes to hear all six factors new growers need to understand and consider before planting a vineyard. In this…
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Today, we're starting a two-part series on the six essential things you must understand and evaluate to start and grow a successful vineyard. Starting and running a vineyard is expensive – $20,000 to $25,000 per acre – not including fencing, equipment, and irrigation. It’s important you do your research and learn all that you can about the site you…
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What are rootstock trials, and why are they important for your grape-growing operation? Listen in as I have a discussion with Dr. Gill Giese from the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University on the latest findings in rootstock trials and what they mean for vineyards today and in the future. In this episode, Gill and I talk about the resu…
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We are nearing the end of the year already, which means it’s time to discuss our 2023 vineyard season-end review. This is a solo episode where I’m going into a lot of detail on the past year from a viticulturist's perspective. During this review, I discuss trends I’ve seen across North America, including the common things that worked and ones that …
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In this episode, we are literally going underground. We're having a conversation with my pal Bubba Beasley about the science of soil mapping and why soil mapping is important for vineyards, even if your vineyard is already established. Bubba is a geologist and founder of HydroGeo Environmental. He is an expert in every sense of the word when it com…
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It is post harvest time for many of our northern listeners. You made it through the peak season, and you are now surviving through the fall and preparing your vineyard for leaf drop. In this solo episode, we are diving into the top four post harvest vineyard priorities for healthy, happy grape vines going into winter dormancy. We dig into late seas…
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As a wine-grape grower, yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) is an important factor to measure in your grapes and wine. On today’s episode, Professor and Enologist Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield joins us to share her expertise on the role of yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and nitrogen in wine quality and fermentation. Her work and focus on sensory scie…
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Listen in as we engage in a riveting conversation with two remarkable experts, Dr. Megan Hall and Dr. Mizuho Nita, about sour rot, a challenging disease that can significantly impact winegrapes. Through this discussion, we gain a deeper understanding of sour rot, exploring how to identify it, why and how it occurs, and the various organisms and ins…
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Join us on the Vineyard Underground podcast as we welcome Denise Gardner, a renowned winemaking consultant and wine grape educator. Our exciting conversation begins with an exploration of how pre-harvest and harvest actions in the vineyard can greatly influence the quality of wine. Listen in as Denise shares her unique journey to becoming an acclai…
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Tune in as we have an enlightening discussion with Dr. Mark Greenspan, founder of Advanced Viticulture, about the latest innovations in irrigation scheduling and how it influences wine quality. We take a closer look into the intricacies of irrigation scheduling and its influence on wine quality. For over 30 years, Mark has been working with growers…
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Prepare to have your perceptions challenged as we explore the intriguing relationship between wine yield and quality. Today, we welcome the brilliant Dr. Patty Skinkis, renowned for her work as a viticulture extension specialist at Oregon State University and the host of the Hi-Rez Vineyard Nutrition podcast. She'll be guiding us on a journey that …
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In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Terry Bates, the director of Cornell's Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory, to explore the importance of crop estimation for successful vineyard management. We discuss the basics of crop estimation, including understanding the expected yield, ripening of the current crop, and how to prepare for the yield…
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Can you spot the spotted lanternfly? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Michela Centinari, Associate Professor of Viticulture at Penn State, for the latest research on this invasive insect pest and its impact on North American vineyards. Together, we explore all things spotted lanternfly for winegrape growers including identification, risk factors, pr…
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Should you be practicing leaf removal in your vineyard? What’s the correct timing? How much leaf removal is too much? In this episode, we dive into the why, when, and how of all things leaf removal so you can feel confident in your thinning decisions. Our guests are Extension Viticulturist Dr. Cain Hickey from Penn State University and seasoned gra…
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When we shoot thin, we force the vines to focus all their best energy where we want the production and where we want the vine to grow in the years to come. This is how international pruning expert Marco Tessari so perfectly explains the purpose of shoot thinning. Marco along with Ken Swegles of Rhizos Viticulture Consulting join me for this informa…
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We get many questions from growers like you all over the country and the world, so we are taking this episode to answer a handful of these questions on topics ranging from young vine training to fungicide rotation. Listen in, as you may have had some of these same questions in your vineyard, and stay tuned for more grower Q&A episodes in the future…
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In this episode, Paicines Ranch Vineyard Director and global agriculture consultant, Kelly Mulville, shares his passion and expertise on integrating regenerative agriculture principles including sheep into vineyard systems to increase ecosystem health, biodiversity, and profitability. Listen in to learn more about regenerative agriculture and how y…
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Nitrogen is one of the most popular nutrients for wine growers when it comes to general fertilization. However, many of us don’t understand exactly why it’s utilized. We don’t understand the deeper reasons behind why nitrogen is so powerful. If you relate to that, no need to worry. I brought my good friend Paul Crout onto the show today to help us …
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In this episode, we are diving into the essential vineyard tasks that you need to complete before bud burst in your vineyard to ensure you're prepared and ready for the growing season. A successful season depends on you and your crew’s preparation. You must have a top-to-bottom plan for your vineyard so it can thrive during the upcoming season. Fro…
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In today’s episode, we get to listen in as Fritz presents the keynote presentation at the 2023 Ohio Grape & Wine Conference focusing on the holistic approach to vine health, production, and vineyard longevity along with best practice innovations for holistic vineyard management. Embracing a holistic approach entails looking at the complete system f…
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On today’s episode of Vineyard Underground, I'm answering questions from winegrape growers across the country (and the world) on 7 very different topics. Listen in as my answers to these questions just might help you with questions you have had for your vineyard as well. If you have questions you need to be answered for your vineyard, remember you …
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Pruning wounds can leave your vines and trunks susceptible to certain disease-causing pathogens. While this is an inevitable part of growing a vineyard, there are certain pruning practices that can mitigate the risks. It’s also useful to familiarize yourself with the different infection processes between diseases so you have better agency to approa…
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