Grapevines have a natural defense mechanism against Glassy-winged sharpshooter, a notorious vector for Pierce’s disease, that researchers are trying to learn more about. Watch this brief interview with Julie Pedraza from the Fresno State Viticulture & Enology Research Center and read more about it n American Vineyard Magazine.
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Monitoring the progress of your grape composition and timing harvest just right when you have thousands of acres, several varieties and diverse growing conditions can be difficult to keep up with. Well, the Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology has been working with industry collaborators on speeding up with process with greater accuracy. Watch this brief video with Luca Brillante and Eve Laroche-Pinel to find out how they’re doing it, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Anything that can help improve soil moisture retention, limit weed pressure and improve soil health in the vineyard is worth looking into, right?Watch this brief interview with Central Valley organic raisin grower Steven Cardoza as he shares what he is doing with grant funding from the UC Cooperative Extension to accomplish these objective. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Drones are being more widely employed for various purposes in the agricultural sector. The Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology is taking things to the next level by measuring grapevine water stress through hyperspectral imaging, using drone-accumulated data to further automate the irrigation process. Watch this brief interview with Luca Brillante and Kaylah Vasquez to learn more, and read about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
The pioneering Sangiacomo family, leaders in sustainable grape growing in Sonoma County, are honored to celebrate 95 years of farming and stewardship in Sonoma.
The Sangiacomo family’s roots in Sonoma County began on August 30, 1927, when founder Vittorio Sangiacomo signed the deed to the 55-acre Eden Dale ranch, at the southern end of the Sonoma Valley in what is now the Carneros appellation. The historic agricultural property, dating back to the mid-1800s, was at the time an award-winning fruit tree farm, planted to apples, pears, peaches, prunes and cherries. Though Vittorio and family first found success focusing on the cultivation of pear trees, the Sangiacomos shifted their agricultural focus when they planted their first Sonoma vineyard, Green Acres, in 1969. For the past 53 years, the family has continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate wine grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards in Carneros, the Petaluma Gap, and Sonoma Coast. Along with launching their namesake wine brand in 2016, they are proud to continue to work with over 70 wineries, many with long-lasting relationships spanning decades.
The original Eden Dale property, now known as the Sangiacomo family “Home Ranch,” is the heart and soul of the family business. It’s where the second and third generations of the family learned the value of stewardship and sustainability, and where, 95 years later, they continue their long-standing tradition in farming. The 110-acre Home Ranch is also home to the Sangiacomo Family Wines tasting room, where visitors can taste small-lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the family’s historic vineyards, while gaining insight into the history of the family and the land they’ve farmed for nearly a century.
“When my brother Mike, sister Mia and I reflect on 95 years of farming, commitment, passion, and family heritage come to mind,” says Steve Sangiacomo, third-generation partner. “From the progression of growing pears to wine grapes, three generations have worked side-by-side and have shared the vision to seek opportunity, take risks, and evolve our family business. We would not be where we are today without the knowledge and values we learned from our grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunt. It’s an honor to continue our family’s agricultural journey, planting the seeds to enable future generations to build upon this legacy.”
To celebrate this near-century milestone, the Sangiacomos are releasing the remaining amounts of their Home Ranch Chardonnay from their library, including the inaugural 2016 vintage, along with many of their other exclusive estate bottlings. All are available at the Sangiacomo Home Ranch tasting room, located two miles south of the Sonoma Plaza.
About Sangiacomo Vineyards
As multigenerational Sonoma farmers with roots tracing back to 1927, the Sangiacomo family have continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards. Widely recognized as leading growers in California, the Sangiacomos also make estate wines for their own label, Sangiacomo Family Wines. A true family business with over 50 years of grape growing experience, they bring unparalleled knowledge and expertise, and lead with a commitment to quality and authenticity in all areas of operations. Working with acclaimed winemaker James MacPhail, the family produces limited quantities of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines that express the character of the land they’ve farmed for 95 years, and hope to call home, for generations. For more information, visit www.sangiacomowines.com.
In Spring 2022, the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) announced the NGRA Fellowship, offering $30,000 per year for up to three years to a Ph.D. student conducting research addressing one or more of NGRA’s industry research priorities. In addition to the monetary award, the doctoral fellowship also includes a unique opportunity to receive mentorship, exposure to commercial grape production and networking with the organization’s national Board of Directors, representing all sectors and regions of the American grape and wine industry. The NGRA Fellowship is made possible by a grant from the NGRA Research Fund.
“Many of the legends of grape science are retiring, and a tremendous wave of talented new scientists are coming up—it’s a unique window of opportunity we wanted to leverage,” said NGRA Board Chairman Russell Smithyman. “We established the NGRA Fellowship to begin to initiate and nurture lifelong relationships with promising Ph.D.-level students who aspire to make a career helping to advance grape and wine science through innovative, industry-priority grape research. It’s an exciting initiative for an exciting time in our industry.”
The inaugural NGRA Fellow is Abby Hammermeister (shown above), a graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. in Biophysics as a member of the McElrone USDA-ARS Plant Physiology Lab at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). Her proposed research, “From Leaves to Space: Linking Physiological Responses to Stress with Proximal Sensing Systems,” focuses on how grapevines’ complex response to heat and drought may be monitored and ultimately managed using proximal sensors and other technologies. In her NGRA Fellowship application, Ms. Hammermeister explained that, as an undergraduate student, she discovered the field of biophysics and its applications to plants. Her research “helped me realize that I could apply my quantitative and computational skills to studying plants and sustainable agriculture,” with a specific interest in water management and grapes and vineyard systems.
Nick Dokoozlian, Vice President – Winegrowing Research at E. & J. Gallo Winery and NGRA Research Chair said, “Abby is an impressive young scientist, who is passionate about applying basic research to further elucidate the bio-physical mechanisms related to grapevine water use. We are anxious to learn how her research progresses and have no doubt that both she and her work will be assets to the industry.
“We are also very pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Abby’s Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Andrew McElrone of the USDA-ARS and UC Davis,” Dr. Dokoozlian continued. “Andrew and the members of his laboratory are highly respected researchers working on the cutting edge of new technologies to improve vineyard irrigation management. Our industry continues to benefit significantly from their research to increase grapevine water use efficiency.”
A native of Cheney, Washington, Ms. Hammermeister earned her bachelor of arts degree in Biology with a minor in Mathematics at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Her undergraduate research was funded by a Connie Callahan Munzenrider CURE (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience) Scholar award in 2019 and, in coming to UC Davis in 2021, she received the university’s highly competitive Dean’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship for her first year of study.
“Abby has a bright future as an academic or federal researcher, and can make significant contributions to the grape industry,” said Andrew McElrone, USDA-ARS Research Plant Physiologist and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, who serves as Ms. Hammermeister’s academic advisor. “Support from the NGRA Fellowship will help to ensure that she is working exclusively on grape research and applying her computational and quantitative skills to real-world problems across grape commodities.”
“The opportunity to connect with industry mentors and do research in commercial vineyard settings is a great way to help me better understand how I could contribute to advancing applied research in grapes,” Ms. Hammermeister said. “I welcome these partnerships and the insights into potential career options in the grape industry for Ph.D.-level scientists.”
Ms. Hammermeister was one of 13 Ph.D. students who applied for the NGRA Fellowship. The applicants spanned the U.S., representing California, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Texas and Washington. The research projects they proposed addressed remote sensing and mapping; disease, pest and irrigation management; yield estimation; vineyard soil health; genetics and grapevine breeding and more. And their academic advisors are a who’s who of scientists working in grape today.
“We were humbled by the response from the academic community to our call for entries for the NGRA Fellowship and overwhelmed by the quality of the 13 top-notch applications we received,” said NGRA President Donnell Brown. “These young scientists already are setting a high bar for grape research, and their pursuit of doctorate degrees in grape and wine science underscores their commitment to the industry. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them and are excited to be part of Abby’s promising career.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GRAPE RESEARCH ALLIANCE
The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) was organized in 2005 as a strategic planning organization for research to strengthen the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness of America’s grape and wine industry. The nonprofit organization unites all grape sectors including raisin, juice, table and wine grapes together with researchers and grant funders in a unique collaborative effort that focuses on initiating game-changing, national-level research to advance the industry. For more information, visit graperesearch.org.
California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Chairman Tom Slater announced the appointment of Natalie Collins as interim president on July 27th. She replaces John Aguirre who retired after twelve years of service.
“CAWG is very happy to have Natalie in this role,” Slater said. “She has been a part of the CAWG family for many years, and her insight and dedication to the association are well received. The CAWG board of directors looks forward to working with Natalie on all issues and appreciates her contributions toward the future success of our membership.”
Collins said, “I am honored to serve as interim president and humbled by this opportunity. I look forward to continuing the legacy of strong leadership and advocacy on behalf of our growers. Winegrape growers in California today are facing unprecedented challenges, and I take seriously CAWG’s leadership role in this iconic industry.”
Collins joined CAWG in 2015 as the director of member relations and quickly established herself as integral to the advancement of the association. She is a graduate of California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business and minors in organizational communications and business administration. Prior to joining CAWG, she was a program director for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation and a 2015 graduate of the Leadership Farm Bureau program.
Natalie resides in Lodi with her husband Kyle and their two children.
As drought conditions persist in California, farmers are making the most of every drop of water they use. However, there may be more they can do during the rainy season to put water back into the ground with assistance of the USDA-NRCS. Watch this brief interview with California Water Quality Specialist Wendy Rash to find out.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
A record number of growers will be mechanically harvesting their grapes this year, due in part to increasing labor limitations. There have been many recent innovations in mechanization that go far beyond the machine harvesting of grapes. From mechanical leaf and sucker removal to automated winter pruners, watch this video with Aaron Lange from Langetwins Family Winery & Vineyards for his perspective on vineyard automation. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Many insect pests currently plaguing California agriculture are not native to the state. As grape growers continue to battle pests like vine mealybug and are threatened by other potential pests such as spotted lanternfly, watch this brief interview with Lodi PCA/CCA Larry Whitted as he reminds growers how important it is for imported grapevines to be properly quarantined and screened before being planted in the vineyard. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.