Sustainable Winegrowing

Microbats are tiny natural predators with a big appetite for insects, but the uniform structure of a vineyard can keep them from venturing far into the block. Matt Fowles, Owner and CEO of Fowles Wine, noticed that vineyard blocks near trees had less moth pressure than those bordered by open grassland.
He shares how that observation inspired a system of vertical structures designed to give microbats echolocation points and encourage them to move deeper into the vineyard. Early trials show increased bat activity and promising potential for natural pest control in vineyards. 

Resources:  

272: 30 Gophers a Night: Why Barn Owls Belong in Your Vineyard
306: Using Barn Owls for Gopher and Rodent Control in Vineyards
Bat Navs: A project by Fowles – Series Trailer 
Fowles Wine Activates $500K Grant to Go Into Bat for Aussie Viticulture, Safeguarding Against Costly Pests
Matt Fowles - Fowles Wines - a cool-climate wine producer
Microbats (little bats) 
Microbat | Wikipedia
The bats safeguarding against pests in vineyards
What are 5 species of microbats? 

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

Social media keeps changing, but wineries can stay relevant with a focused strategy. Heather Daenitz (Craft & Cluster) shares practical advice on Instagram Stories, audience engagement, searchable content, authentic video, and content series that help wineries connect with wine consumers. 

Resources: 

Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Join the SIP Certified Wine Finder (Members Only)
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Real Stories, Real Impact
SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit
Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course  

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

Why we like wine has less to do with our taste buds than you might think. Zata Vickers, professor of Food Science and Nutrition and director of the Sensory Center at the University of Minnesota, explains the science behind why we like what we like.
Learn how repeated exposure, positive social experiences, and even the words used to describe wine influence our preferences. Along the way, she shares surprising insights into what babies' reactions can teach us about taste and why food preferences are learned more often than they're born. 

Resources:  

257: Understanding Winery Visitors – Increase Sales with your Messaging
309: Create Memorable Winery Experiences That Drive Sales | Marketing Tip Monday 
Food Science Seminar
Zata Vickers
Zata Vickers | Google Scholar
Zata Vickers | LinkedIn 

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

Mesa Vineyard Management teamed up with Cal Poly to track barn owls and understand where they hunt in an effort to help growers strengthen natural pest control in vineyards.
Resources: 

Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Real Stories, Real Impact
SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit
Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course  

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

Biological control is emerging as one of the most promising tools against spotted lanternfly. Anne Johnson, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, explains how spotted lanternfly damages grapevines by draining plant sap and producing honeydew that fuels sooty mold.
She shares new research showing that North American predators, including spiders, praying mantises, and birds, are already helping keep this invasive pest in check. Learn which biological control strategies show the most promise, why removing tree of heaven matters, and how community science is accelerating discoveries for sustainable spotted lanternfly management.  

Resources:  

96: Spotted Lanternfly - Threat to California 
175: How to Prepare for Invasive Pests in Your Vineyard
289: How Spotted Lanternfly Puts Grapes at Risk—and What Growers Can Do
Allies Against an Invasive: Interactions Between Spotted Lanternflies and Native Species (Seminar)
Anne Johnson | Google Scholar
Anne Johnson | Michigan State University 
Birds Biting Bad Bugs | Facebook 
Natural insect predators may serve as allies in spotted lanternfly battle
Predation of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) by generalist arthropod predators in North America
Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide
Spotted lanternfly may use 'toxic shield' to fend off bir predators 

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing