Sustainable Winegrowing

While the Whale Rock Music Festival is renowned for rocking the Central Coast every year with live music and family-friendly activities. The event has an even greater purpose: supporting Templeton High School musicians through the parent-volunteer organization, TIMBA. 

Resources: 

*** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** 
Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Supporting Arts & Community | Castoro Cellars
Sustainable Story Worksheet   Print  
Electronic  


Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate 
Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours 
SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   
Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year 
Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Root systems are more than just anchors, they are the plant's stomach, communicating with their environment through a network of microbes.
Suzanne Fleishman, Assistant Professor of Root Biology at Penn State University, introduces the emerging field of Root Agroecology, which integrates plant physiology and omic methods to improve sustainability in vineyards. She shares insights from a five-year red fescue cover crop trial showing reduced pruning weights and improved vine balance, as well as shifts in rhizosphere microbiomes.
Her future goal? A grower tool that predicts the best cover crops by site. 

Resources:  

72: Soil Microbes and Nutrient Availability 

151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health 

159: Under-Vine Vegetation to Control Vine Vigor 

Can Cover Crops Improve Wine Grape Production Resilience? 

Research revealing grapevine root relationships 

Root Agroecology Lab 

Suzanne Fleishman 

Suzanne Fleisman – Google Scholar  

Suzanne Fleishman – Research Gate 

Undervine groundcover substantially increases shallow but not deep soil carbon in a temperate vineyard 

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

Eco-conscious wine lovers are willing to pay more for sustainable products—but they won't dig for details.
In this Marketing Tip Monday, learn how to meet consumer demand for sustainability by making it easy. With 60% of younger and multicultural wine buyers preferring sustainable wines, visibility is key.
Show your story at a glance with the SIP Certified logo on your label. It's fast, simple, and signals your commitment to people and the planet. 

Resources: 

*** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** 
Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Sustainable Story Worksheet  

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate 
Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours 
SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   
Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year 
Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Lasers may offer a chemical-free way to deter bird pests in vineyards and other agricultural systems. 
George Gallagher, Department Head of Animal Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, explains why bird pressure goes beyond crop loss, raising concerns about disease risks like salmonella, E. coli, and transmission of avian influenza. He shares results from a controlled study using a handheld laser, aimed at birds' feet, to measure how long it took them to respond. 
The research showed that different birds react differently. George highlights the importance of animal safety and the role of species-specific vision when evaluating new deterrent tools. Listen through the end to hear if the lasers work on rats. 

Resources:  

58: Barn Owls
114: Designing a Vineyard for Year-Round Sheep Grazing 
272: 30 Gophers a Night: Why Barn Owls Belong in Your Vineyard
Cal Poly Animan Science Department
George Gallagher
George Gallagher  |Amanote Research
George Gallagher | Research Gate 
Tactical to Practical: The Human Component of Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate 
Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours 
SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   
Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year 
Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Legal oversights can cost wine brands dearly, but with the right guidance, many are entirely preventable. Lindsey Zahn, Managing Partner of Lindsey Zahn P.C. Alcoholic Beverage Law Firm, breaks down the top four legal pitfalls wineries and wine brands must avoid. From building solid contracts and understanding who owns what, to navigating TTB labeling rules, producing non-alcoholic wines, and staying compliant with social media advertising laws, this episode arms you with practical knowledge to reduce risk and protect your business from penalties. 

Resources:  

187: Labor and Employment Law Tips from a Lawyer
Code of Federal Regulations - Food Labeling 
Code of Federal Regulations – Labeling and Advertising of Wine
Dealcoholized Wine and Malt Beverages - Labeling
Guidance for Industry: Food Labeling Guide
Lindsey Zahn 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate 
Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours 
SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   
Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year 
Vineyard Team – Become a Member