Discussing Climate Change & Sustainability in Napa Valley with Dan Petroski

Cru | Wine Industry Podcast

Dan Petroski is the winemaker of Larkmead Vineyards and the founder & winemaker of Massican.

Recently, Dan spoke on a panel regarding climate change and sustainability in relation to the global wine industry. Leaving me with more questions, we sat down to chat about the effects of climate change on Napa Valley specifically, with a focus on the benchmarking and data gathering that Larkmead has been doing to assess things like growing degree days in detail, and how Napa Valley is evolving into Zone 5 climatic conditions. We also discuss the affects of alternative packing and how that crosses over in the marketing & customer perception. Then we dig into how Dan is preparing for the potential major effects of climate change with a 21 year plan for testing other grape varietals that might possibly be more viable in the long-term.

For those who do not know Dan, I encourage you to go back and list to my original interview with him where we discussed being the winemaker of Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga, California and the founder & winemaker of Massican, Dan’s all white wine label making beautiful expressions of Italian based white wines like a Pinot Grigio & Greco blend called Gemina.

In this episode we mention… Larkmead Vineyards Sustainability Winkler Index for wine growing climatic Zones The Definition of Zone 5 on the Winkler Index Torres & Jackson Family Climate Change Action Group Napa Valley Grape Growers (Dan is on the Board) Napa Valley Vintners Association Brief history of Larkmead grape growing FOLLOW DAN ON... INSTAGRAM

Our podcast today is sponsored by the Executive MBA in Wine Business programs at Sonoma State University.

For wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs alike the Sonoma Executive MBA programs in wine business is a game-changer. The first of their kind in the United States and developed in response to the needs of the wine industry, Sonoma State University's AACSB accredited Executive MBA programs combine globally-recognized excellence in business education with wine industry expertise.

Their alumni are leaders at elite wine brands around the world. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates. The programs offer experiential learning through an immersive 4-day leadership sailing weekend in San Diego Bay and in-country consulting projects during a 12-day international business trip. Market-responsive courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are accepted through February 28th. Visit http://sbe.sonoma.edu/podcast for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. Follow us on social media @sonomasbe.