California Ag Network

Category: Grape Industry

  • Wine Institute Urges Preserving Long-Standing Guidance on Alcohol Consumption in U.S. Dietary Guidelines

    Wine Institute submitted formal comments today to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services urging them to preserve the long-standing guidance on alcohol consumption contained in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines (DGA). Since 1990, the DGA have recommended that adults who choose to consume alcohol should do so in moderation and defined this as no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Last month, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended a significant change to the guidance on consumption for men, changing the guidance to no more than one drink per day.

    “The current recommendation in the Dietary Guidelines should be preserved based on the strength of the current body of scientific evidence supporting that recommendation,” said Bobby Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute. “The Advisory Committee report clearly fails to establish the preponderance of evidence needed to change this guidance which has been in place for thirty years.”

    The agencies are in the process of drafting the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and will issue the final recommendations later this year

    A copy of Wine Institute’s comments can be found here.

    Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of more than 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses. California is the fourth largest wine producer worldwide and accounts for 95 percent of U.S. wine exports.

  • Nathan Carlson Reflects on a Decade with Center of Effort Wines

    After a decade of working with Center of Effort Wine, time seems to have passed quickly. “As I think back, we have accomplished so much in that time. Our wines have found a rhythm, we understand the estate and the land, and we have begun to make adjustments based on deep knowledge of this place,” explains Nathan.

    Nathan Carlson joined Center of Effort in late June of 2010, when the winery had been under the new ownership of Bill and Cheryl Swanson.  At his previous job, he oversaw winemaking for multiple brands in multiple facilities, and sourced grapes from growers from Lake County to Santa Barbara.

    Center of Effort presented an opportunity to get back into the Edna Valley, a place that Nathan knows well.  This new opportunity gave me the chance to be involved nearly from the beginning with a new winery, owners who were committed to quality and to connecting with their customers. Most importantly, after years of working broadly with vineyards and growers across the state, this was clearly an opportunity to develop a deep understanding of one single estate location; maximizing quality and efficiency from the existing vines and implementing solutions that made sense in our circumstances.

    There were challenges ahead, and new wineries can be filled with uncertainty. “I had experience working with fruit from the established vines on this property. I knew that there was potential for excellence here, if the details were attended to carefully.  And in particular I knew that there would be growth and learning for me by working for someone like Bill Swanson,” says Carlson.

    Early meetings with Mr. Swanson made it clear that he was direct, fair and that he had vast experience managing tens of thousands of people as the President and CEO of Raytheon. He approached and thought about things on a different scale than most people.

    While working with the vineyards and wines, Nathan tried to understand what exists naturally, and draw on that strength rather than imposing any particular style on the fruit.  The existing vines were planted in 1997, according to production standards of that time.  From that first summer, the company paid close attention to soil, aspect and growth patterns.

    In 2012 we implemented a major replanting of 8 acres to very high-density, high quality planting of additional Pinot Noir clonal selections, increasing the diversity of fruit available to our winemaking program.

    From 2011, they enrolled in an audited sustainability program (SIP) that has been a useful metric to measure our longer-term goals for the vineyard and the business. They use very safe methods of crop protection, plant cover crops to minimize erosion and to feed the soil, return compost to the vines each winter to build organic matter in the soil, and track water use.  Canopy management is a major quality and vine health issue in a cool foggy region, and they retrofitted the vineyard to make shoot management and leaf pulling easier for the crews.  It is amazing to watch the soil come back to life; where it was previously a lifeless crust directly under the vines it now holds water and earthworms and smells clean and earthy.

    “Our wines have been fortunate to receive acclaim right from the beginning.  Our inaugural release of the Estate Pinot Noir was rated 95 points by a major wine publication, and that praise has been a consistent part of our story ever since.  We have always made our mailing list customer/members our main focus, and present offers of the wines to them upon release and prior to the winter holidays. When we began to sell the wines in distribution, it was initially through our neighbor Lorraine Alban’s wine company – she and her team have been wonderful stewards of our wines, sharing them with businesses in our region and being mindful of what is best for us in the longer term,” says Nathan.

    Over the past decade, CEOE has been constantly building and developing.  Wells, water infrastructure, vineyard redevelopment, a solar field to provide all winery power, upgrading facility and winery equipment, additional fermentation and storage tanks, all-new presses, and high-quality grape receiving equipment all happened largely in the background, but boosted the efficiency and quality of their wines and vineyards.

    Since 2016, the company undertook a multi-million-dollar wholesale renovation of the winery and grounds.

    Prior to launching this renovation, COE didn’t have a comfortable place to host visitors to the winery. “I want COE to have a place that matches the wine quality” Bill Swanson, Owner of COE said many times during meetings.

    “We thought about the design of the public spaces from the desire to provide genuine hospitality and ease to our guests, with small semi-private spaces to sit comfortably, large outdoor patios and gardens for events and winery parties, and all of it open to our unmatched views of the Santa Lucia mountains.  The open kitchen with Chef’s bar has been a wonderful way to share culinary experiences with small groups of our members.  There truly is not another property like this in the region, and it is a special privilege to come to work here every morning,” adds Nathan.

    COE is now an authentic ambassador for the Edna Valley. It is a magnificent place on the Pacific coast.  Nathan started as the only employee of the business. “We had contractors and outside service providers, but it took time to assemble the right crew of people.  And over time, we have had contributions from many amazing human beings who have built their experience with us at COE and eventually transitioned out into the larger world of our industry,” says Carlson.

    COE’s close connection with California Polytechnic University and their Wine and Viticulture department has grown and bloomed to become a development ground for amazing talent that is moving into the industry.

    “The Edna Valley AVA is a fairly small region; and because of that our voice may not have been as loud as others.

    The wines from the Edna Valley tend toward elegance and longevity at their best, not bombast and hedonism, which tends to attract more attention.  But members of our industry who have a broad understanding of the world of wine appreciate the quality potential and ascendency of the wines. I am ultimately looking forward to developing Center of Effort’s special strengths and to telling their unique story,” says Nathan.

  • Shannon Ridge Acquires Steele Wines, Welcoming New Family of Wine

    Effective August 17th, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines announced the acquisition of Steele Wines, of Finley, California. Shannon Ridge has purchased the Lake County winery facilities and their diverse portfolio of brands and trademarks, including Shooting Star, Stymie, and Writer’s Block.

    “This merger represents the perfect solution for both parties,” says Shannon Ridge founder and President, Clay Shannon. “Strategically, the increased production capacity and storage space allows us to continue our expansion goals while providing the Steele Wines family of brands a local partner to further their market distribution.” Shannon Ridge can now easily surpass its 310,000 annual case volume and continue to champion 21st-century winemaking methods for high-elevation varietals.

    Beyond strategic value, the acquisition of Steele Wines epitomizes the pioneering spirit of Clay Shannon. His mission since 1996 has been to promote Lake County as a premier wine-producing region in California, combined with an unwavering commitment to sustainable operations. To underscore this point: only 45% of the winery’s 2500 acres have been converted to vineyards, preserving the rest of the property for natural wildlife to pass through peacefully.

    Shannon Ridge plans to use the newly acquired facilities not only for the increased winemaking capacity and storage – 2,500 tons and 6,000 barrels, respectively – but also for introducing a new on-site property experience, ‘Shannon Mercantile,’ at the current Steele tasting room in Kelseyville. In addition to the Shannon Ridge and Steele wine portfolios, the planned Lake County establishment will offer the ranch’s grass-fed lamb, farm eggs, and other home goods and merchandise. Shannon remarked, “We aim to make Shannon Mercantile a family-friendly destination where folks can enjoy their wine with a picnic lunch on the lawn, movie nights on warm summer evenings, and festivities to celebrate various holidays throughout the year.” Shannon aims to make the mercantile a go-to destination in Lake County and is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2021.

    Steele Wines celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2020 and has spent nearly the last three decades specializing in producing high-quality, small-batch, (under 1,000 cases), varietals sourced from the finest vineyards in Lake and Mendocino Counties. After 50 years of winemaking in California, founder Jed Steele will assume a supporting role in the winery, assisting in the production of Steele Wines and enjoying retirement at his properties in Lake County, Montana, and Florida. Shannon ridge was advised in this transaction by former and now retired Shannon Ridge CFO, Don Chase of Don Chase Wine Industry Management Services.

    About Shannon Ridge Family of Wines: Shannon Ridge was founded in 1996 in Lake County, CA, and has been dedicated ever since to making top-quality wines at affordable prices. Their high-elevation vineyard sites are sustainably farmed to preserve the natural habitats of local wildlife. The Shannon Ridge Family of Wines portfolio includes Buck Shack, Clay Shannon, High Valley, Old Pearl, OVIS, Pistol Grip, Playtime, Urgency, Vigilance, Shannon Ridge, and Shannon Reserve. For more information on Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, please visit ShannonRidge.com or call 707.994.9656.

  • Calaveras Wine Country Mourns Loss of Stephen Collum

    The Calaveras wine industry has lost a great mentor, innovator, vineyard manager and friend. Stephen Collum, 64, the founder of Murphys-based Vineyard Concepts consulting and management company, passed suddenly on August 11th at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Stockton.

    Stephen Collum at 2019 Vineyard Tour (Photo by Sandra Hess)

    “Steve was the driving force for bringing education, enthusiasm and commitment to improving and excelling in all things related to the vineyard. As a winemaker, working with Steve not only directly resulted in improving the quality of my wines, but he was a delight to be around. A truly stellar human, one of the best. He will be sorely missed by myself and our entire community,” shares Kate Boyle-MacDonald, winemaker and owner of Boyle-MacDonald Wines.

    After exploring the region of Chianti Italy, Stephen had developed a passion for the Sangiovese grape and decided to search for an area in California with the same terroir where he and his wife could develop their own vineyard. In 1988 Steve and his wife Cindy found themselves in Calaveras County, located in the pristine Sierra Foothills, where they were shown a beautiful piece of property they soon purchased and made this wine region their home. Steve grew Sangiovese grapes that have gone into many award winning wines.

    Steve was a HUGE part of the Calaveras County wine community not only as a vineyard manager but as a friend to many. Steve was a loyal supporter of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) where he served as a board of director for years and also chaired the Education Committee. Steve connected top-notch speakers and educators from across California to serve CWA grower and winery members in the monthly education program. Steve led the CWA Vineyard Tour every summer and helped many grape growers start their vineyards. He was focused on sustainable practices and helped Rob and Sheri Hendriks of Aloria Vineyards reach their dream of becoming a Sustainable Vineyard. “Stephen helped us obtain our California Certified Sustainable Vineyard Certification in 2019. He explained that certification doesn’t mean that our job is done, only that we are fulfilling a greater purpose to work towards. To be fully sustainable as an operating vineyard and winery, he explained, means that we work towards a perfect balance of stewardship, opportunity, growth and prosperity within our organization and our community, shares Sheri. “Our frequent conversations around town, in the tasting room and “Friday’s with Stephen” at the vineyard were the highlight from bud break to harvest. He passed the love of grape farming on to us in our short time together. We hope we can do our friend proud and like he taught us, listen to the vines”.

    Sandra Hess, Executive Director of the CWA shares, “I met Steve just a few short years ago and was always impressed by his big heart and care for the community. Steve would drop by the CWA offices as he had time to see how we were doing and offer advice. I am in shock by Steve’s passing as he was actively helping this past spring. He was one of the greats and will be dearly missed”.

    Gay Callan, Long-standing CWA Board Member and Vineyard Owner shares, “While most of us know that he moved here is 1988 and started his own vineyard, he was really the first to start a vineyard consulting business that would eventually expand the horizons for Calaveras County and beyond. His dedication to community, his expansion of agricultural education and his love of the earth (grapes) was contagious. Whatever you asked him to do, he would silently get it done, he was humble, funny, had a great sense of humor and most of all was so generous with his time and knowledge. We have lost another terrific mentor for a lot of people, but mostly – we have lost a dear friend. You could always count on Steve! I am grateful to have known him and to have worked with him over the years. There are no other words to say other than my thoughts and prayers are with his family”.

    “Our hearts are so heavy.  Steve was more than a colleague, he was also a visionary, a pioneer and an incredible friend. He was such a good man, and the ache of his loss will be felt in our community for a very long time to come. The Sierra Foothills wine region would not be what it is today without Steve’s expertise and loving care. We will always cherish our memories of him, as well as his influence in our lives and in our wine. Our harvests will just not be the same without him. We will be dedicating our 2019 Sangiovese to Steve’s memory. Grown on his own personal vineyard, Steve tended those grapes with love. As the last vintage he got to harvest, we are especially grateful to have it nestled safely in our barrels. We know how much he was looking forward to tasting what we created together, and we only wish he had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful wine his grapes have become,” shares Nathan & Dre Vader, proprietors of Vina Moda Winery.

    As the Calaveras wine region prepares for the 2020 harvest season, many vineyard and winery owners realize that they need to pickup where Steve left off and will be working extra hard to make him proud. Scott Klann, long-standing winemaker in Calaveras County and owner of Newsome Harlow Wines organized an industry meet-up at Murphys Park this past Thursday to pay respect to Steve and share stories in his honor. “Steve was incredibly collaborative and aware of how to teach people. Steve taught me about the spaces in between vineyard and cellar – the microfibers that connect things. We lost someone who pushed himself and loved to learn every day. He wasn’t afraid to try news things and explore. Steve will be forever missed.”

    CWA Board President, Siri Gilpin shares, “Steve was our vineyard manager for Lavender Ridge and Coppermine Winery. Steve came into our Lavender Ridge market last December and wanted help selecting a good bottle of honey for his wife for Christmas. I thought that was sweet”.

    Bob Smith, co-owner of Jazz Cellars shares, “Jessica Duran was our first tasting room manager and was instrumental in getting us off the ground and started in Murphys. She and Steve were good friends and he frequently dropped by our Tasting Room to say hello. I took a photo of Steve when he visited during Grape Stomp in 2017. As I recall, the story was that for each harvest he completed, he’d paint one of his nails”.

    The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance will be hosting a memorial for Steve once his family has had time to hold their memorial services. Several CWA members have offered their outdoor venues and we hope to schedule a series of memorial events for up to 100 people each as per social distancing policies during pandemic. Information will be shared once dates are confirmed and the CWA office staff can be reached at info@calaveraswines.org. For now, friends of Steve can help by donating to the Go-Fund-Me Campaign established by his team at Vineyard Concepts. The immediate need is financial to cover medical bills and the donation link can be found HERE. 

  • North Coast Wine Harvest Underway (Initial Reports)

    The 2020 North Coast wine grape harvest is underway throughout the region, with sparkling wine varieties leading the way to the presses. 2020’s growing season bodes well for a landmark harvest. Following weeks of steady daytime heat and cool evenings, grapes are ripening evenly, with harvest starting about 10 days earlier than it did in 2019, a relatively cooler, wetter year.

    Sonoma County

    In Sonoma County, the earliest grapes harvested were picked on Monday night, August 3rd in Dry Creek Valley.  Dutcher Crossing Winery’s team picked 4.4 tons of Chardonnay to be used in their estate sparkling wine, a tradition started in 2016. “The team was super excited to get the 2020 vintage started, and what better way to celebrate the harvest season than with Chardonnay for our sparkling wine,” said Nick Briggs, Dutcher Crossing’s Winemaker. “While we were earlier this year by over a week due to light crop load yields, the quality is exceptional!”

    Lower crop yields this season are a theme echoed by winegrowers around Sonoma County. While there were some reports of “shatter” associated with April frost, the main cause for lower yields is related to the cyclical nature of the vines, which have experienced several above-average vintages, including the largest on record in 2018. Many growers call this phenomenon of lower grape yields following several larger vintages “right-sizing.”

    Among other reports of grape harvesting in Sonoma County, MacMurray Ranch in Russian River Valley, picked 20 tons of Pinot Noir for the J Vineyards brand on August 5th. Sasaki Vineyards in Schellville, one of the earliest to pick last year, brought in around 20 tons of Pinot Noir for the Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines early morning, August 6th. The Sasakis have been growing Pinot Noir for Gloria Ferrer for 19 years.

    In Sonoma Valley, vintners, growers and members of the community have gathered in recent years at the Mission San Francisco Solano on the Sonoma Plaza to officially ring the harvest bell to signal the beginning of the harvest season in Sonoma Valley. This year, in observance of social distancing, Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Association has asked winegrowers, winery staff and locals to celebrate the beginning of harvest by creating their own “harvest bells” videos and post them to social media using the hashtag #SonomaValleyHarvest.

    “Harvest is the most exciting time of year for the thousands here in Sonoma County who are connected to wine and ag. After months of care and anticipation, the wait is over and the action is picking up in vineyards and wineries,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “Reports from winegrowers indicate a well-balanced and quality crop, with even ripening through veraison. As always we are looking forward to getting our fruit off the vine, and enjoying the 2020 vintage.”

    Napa Valley

    The 2020 Napa Valley growing season kicked off with mild spring weather, and in June, the conditions were perfect for uniform fruit set. From June to early August, temperatures were steady and warm, little to no heat spikes, creating ideal conditions for the final stretch. Veraison has continued over an extended period, allowing for balanced fruit development. Weather permitting, growers plan for a steady harvest going into October when thicker-skin grapes like cabernet sauvignon will be picked.

    “Amidst the chaos of the pandemic, the grapes continue to ripen, and grape growers feel the continuity of harvest. It has been a superb growing season with moderate weather; Napa Valley is fortunate, we continue to have beautiful fruit, ready for harvest, time and time again,” said Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, Business Manager for Yount Mill Vineyards and Napa Wine Company, whose first pick is this coming Saturday, August 8, from her Block House Vineyard in Yountville, “COVID-19 protection is top-of-mind though, and we are committed to enforcing best practice protocols to ensure all employees in the vineyard and winery are safe while harvest is underway.”

    “We’re gearing up to pick white fruit varieties in the next three weeks, with viognier and sauvignon blanc coming in first. Until then, we’re diligently learning best practices for COVID-19 prevention, and readying for a safe harvest in the workplace, all while keeping a close eye on the grapes still on the vine,” noted Courtney Shifflett, NVG member and viticulturist for Duckhorn Wine Company.

    At the start of harvest, many in the Napa Valley grape growing community gather at various vineyards for the blessing of the grapes, a longstanding tradition dating back to agrarian times, that gives thanks for the bountiful crop. Although ceremonies will look much smaller this year, the Napa Valley community has much to be thankful for with the 2020 harvest, as it reflects the perseverance of Mother Nature through chaotic times.

  • Kendall-Jackson Commits to Certified California Sustainable Wine Growing

    Kendall-Jackson, one of America’s most beloved family-owned and operated wineries, is proud to announce its commitment to Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) and will add the CCSW logo to the Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, the #1-selling wine in America. With this addition, Kendall-Jackson becomes one of the nation’s largest wine producers to make such a profound commitment to enhancing the sustainability of its winegrowing and supply chain. 

    “From the onset, my father, Jess Jackson, believed making great wine starts with respect for the land, the community and future generations,” said Katie Jackson, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility. “We want to provide consumers with wine that they can feel good about drinking. The entire Kendall-Jackson family is committed to keeping my father’s legacy alive and leading California wineries in sustainable winemaking practices. We hope others will follow our path.”

    Kendall-Jackson was first certified sustainable in 2010. In 2017, the CCSW logo was introduced, and Kendall-Jackson promptly added it to the Grand Reserve tier wines. The winery is now making a substantial commitment in adding the logo to the Vintner’s Reserve wines, the largest production tier in the Kendall-Jackson portfolio. Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, which has been a benchmark wine for California Chardonnay, and the top-selling Chardonnay in America for the past 28 years according to IRI data, will carry the CCSW logo starting with the 2018 vintage.

    “This wine has an extensive marketplace presence across America, so this is an exciting and significant endeavor that helps bring nationwide awareness to the California wine industry’s commitment to sustainable winegrowing,” said Allison Jordan, Executive Director of the

     California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, the governing body of the CCSW.

    Kendall-Jackson’s commitment spans the entire portfolio. The ’17 Vintner’s Reserve Merlot, the ’19 Rosé, and the ‘19 Avant Unoaked Chardonnay will also carry the logo, with other varietals following as they are bottled. Consumers will also notice it on the winery’s elevated tier of single vineyard and small-production wines, the Estates Collection.

    As the industry sees a continued increase in wine purchasing for at home consumption, there is a greater consumer desire to understand how wine is made and make choices that support sound environmental and social business practices. A January 2020 Wine Intelligence survey showed 71% of U.S. consumer and trade respondents indicating that they would consider buying sustainably produced wine in the future.

    A sustainable wine goes well beyond the boundaries of the farm, with a need to look at multiple facets of the winemaking process. This puts a stronger onus on responsibility, which is a major facet of Kendall-Jackson’s desire to seek this type of certification. The CCSW sustainable winegrowing concept results in a three-pronged approach relating to the natural environment, quality of grapes and wine, and social responsibility to employees and communities.

    The CCSW certification consists of 140 vineyard and 104 winery best practices that are third-party audited each year. In order for an individual wine to be certified sustainable, at least 85% of the grapes in each bottle must come from a certified sustainable vineyard and the wine must be produced in a certified winery, with 100% of the grapes coming from California vineyards. For the past three decades, the Jackson family has cultivated many of California’s greatest cool, coastal mountains, ridges and benchland vineyards, allowing them a broad perspective of terroir to showcase some of California’s finest growing regions. The Jackson family considers themselves farmers first, and believes the better the soil, the better the wine. The same passion that led the family to acquire the best vineyards throughout coastal California also drives them to care for the land and employ certified sustainable farming practices. One hundred percent of Kendall-Jackson’s more than 14,000 acres of estate vineyards throughout cool, coastal California are third-party Certified Sustainable. No other winery can boast this breadth of sustainably farmed vineyards.

    The benefits of sustainable winegrowing are immense. Winemaking that supports environmental concerns as it conserves natural resources, improves air and water quality, and protects ecosystems and wildlife habitat. For the workforce, sustainable winemaking means stewardship of natural and human resources, with growers and vintners contributing to their communities both economically and culturally. Kendall-Jackson’s final product of higher quality grapes and wine is a testament to the in-depth attention to detail and continuous improvement needed to achieve this rigorous annual certification. By choosing Kendall-Jackson and other California wines with the CCSW logo, consumers can support an industry dedicated to environmental stewardship and socially equitable business practices.

    ABOUT CERTIFIED CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING / CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING ALLIANCE (CSWA)

    CSWA is a nonprofit organization created in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote the benefits of sustainable winegrowing practices, enlist industry commitment and implement the Sustainable Winegrowing Program. In 2010, CSWA introduced Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, a third-party certification program for California vineyards and wineries that adheres to international sustainability standards. Through annual audits, this certification provides independent verification of stringent requirements that ensure key sustainability areas such as soil health, water and energy, habitat, human resources and more are addressed. Certified vineyards and wineries must also measure resources and performance and improve year after year. The logo on wine labels indicates that the wine is made in a Certified California Sustainable winery with grapes from California certified vineyards.

    ABOUT KENDALL-JACKSON

    Kendall-Jackson is one of America’s most beloved family-owned and operated wineries. The winery’s flagship wine, the Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, has been America’s favorite Chardonnay for over 28 years. Founded by entrepreneur and visionary Jess Jackson in 1982, and now led by his wife Barbara Banke and the Jackson family, Kendall-Jackson is based in Sonoma County and offers a range of acclaimed wines grown on the family’s estate vineyards along the coastal ridges of California. Kendall-Jackson is the benchmark for sustainable wine endeavors, setting the precedent for advancement in solar, water, and vineyard practices. Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently named Kendall-Jackson the 2017 winery of the year, one of the wine industry’s most notable accolades. Recognized as a leader in the industry for more than three decades, Kendall-Jackson has built a reputation centered around consistent, high-quality wines that are available nationwide in grocery stores, boutique wine retailers, and restaurants throughout America and globally in Europe, Central America, and Asia. Learn more online at www.kj.com, and follow Kendall-Jackson on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

  • CA Table Grape Season in Full Swing with Lower Crop Estimate

    With the California table grape season in full swing and expectations for a positive season as the backdrop, the California Table Grape Commission revised its estimate for the 2020 table grape crop to 104.9 million 19-pound boxes, down from its April estimate of 106.5 million. The final harvest in 2019 was 104.99 million 19-pound boxes.

    “Estimating the crop is a detailed process that is formally undertaken three times a year and involves volume projections based on growing districts,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “The significant amount of vineyard removal in 2019 appears to have been offset by new vineyards coming into production in 2020,” Nave said.

    Noting that demand has been strong and steady, Nave said the expectation is that the season as a whole will be a positive one. “Quality is excellent and demand is strong in the U.S. and in export markets, and grapes are a perfect fit for consumers in these complicated times: simple, flavorful, versatile, and full of health-enhancing phytonutrients that boost immune health.”

    With 65 percent of the California table grape crop typically shipped between September 1 and the end of January, Nave said that while grapes are a summer fruit, they are very definitely a fall and early winter fruit. With over 80 table varieties grown in California, consumers have lots of different grapes to try. For ideas that go beyond snacking, Nave suggests checking out the extensive collection of traditional and on-trend usage ideas at www.grapesfromcalifornia.com. 

  • Fresno State Virtual Grape Day, August 4

    Celebrating 35 years with the Viticulture & Enology Research Center at California State University Fresno, American Vineyard Magazine is once again pleased to sponsor Fresno State Grape Day, hosted virtually for the first time ever by the Department of Viticulture & Enology team at Fresno State.  Grape Day will be held virtually on August 4th, featuring a new staff of bright minds at the Viticulture & Enology Research Center.  Grape growers, vineyard managers, wine makers, and grape industry stakeholders around the nation are all invited to attend this year’s Grape Day.

    Held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m and moderated by Dr. Stephan Sommer (the new Director of the Viticulture & Enology Research Center), Grape Day will kick off with a presentation by by graduate student Khushwinder Singh and Dr. Luca Brillante, Bronco Wine Co. Viticulture Chair & Assistant Professor of Viticulture at Fresno State.  They will be presenting on Vineyard Soil Reclamation by Different Forms & Doses of CaSO4 Amendments in the San Joaquin Valley of California.  Dr. Rachel Naegele, Research Horticulturist at USDA, will provide a USDA-ARS update on Breeding Novelty & Resistant Table Grapes.  Dr. Kristy Sun, Assistant Professory of Enology at Fresno State will deliver her presentation on the Impact of Deficit Irrigation & Mechanical Leafing on Yield & Berry/Wine Composition of San Joaquin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Dr. Stephan Sommer will lead a presentation on the Use of Polysaccharides in Wine Production.

    In addition to a brief video presentation to showcase the Fresno State Viticulture & Enology Research Center’s unique research and academic programs/facilities, Grape Day will conclude with a Demonstration of Biopotentials as a New Tool to Evaluate Sensory Stimulation Evoked by Wine Aroma.  This presentation will feature Assistant Professor of Enology at Fresno State Dr. Miguel Pedroza, as well as graduate students Robert Herrell and Kori Munk.

    With an exciting lineup of great speakers and informative presentations, this is a Grape Day not to be missed, and can be viewed anywhere in the world this year!  Register for the Zoom Virtual Grape Day for FREE HERE.

  • Largest CA Grower of Organic Thomcord Grapes Gears Up for Harvest

    Fruit World Co., a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit and the largest California grower of organic Thomcord grapes, has announced that it expects to begin shipping this popular variety the first week of August in new high-graphic 2 lb recyclable paper totes. Known for being especially aromatic and flavorful, Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Concord and Thompson Seedless grapes.
     
    “We’re about a week away from harvesting our Thomcords and the crop is looking great,” said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World. “We expect consumers who eagerly await the arrival of these unique and delicious grapes each year are going to be thrilled with them when grocers start stocking their shelves. Demand is always high for this variety, and we anticipate that trend to continue this year.”
     
    Fruit World is forecasting strong Thomcord grape volumes with promotable numbers available in late August. The supply is expected to last until mid-October.
     
    This season’s crop will be available in 10 x 2 lb recyclable and compostable paper totes, with new, bold and colorful graphics. In previous years, this paper tote packaging was popular among consumers for its portability and sustainability, and the new high-graphic bag is anticipated to stand out at retail. The company will be shipping 20 x 1 lb clamshells as well, to meet current consumer demand for packaged premium products.
     
    The company also announced that it will continue a consumer engagement program first used in 2018 and then again last year that encourages consumers to text Fruit World about their Thomcord grape eating experience. Dubbed “Thomcord Tales,” the campaign involves “Text-me” cards being added to packages, and has proven to be a fun and easy way for consumers to provide feedback.
     
    “We try to reply to every Thomcord Tales text we get from consumers, and they seem to enjoy the interaction as much as we do,” said Fruit World co-founder Bianca Kaprielian. “Consumers’ love for Thomcords really comes across in their messages, and retailers have shared that this personal touch drives significant repeat sales.”
     
    In addition to Thomcord grapes, Fruit World will be shipping 10 other organic grape varieties to retailers and wholesalers, including a limited supply from the heritage vines of grower partner Pete Wolf, one of California’s first organic growers and a recognized grape expert. Fruit World is accepting orders now for its high-demand specialty grape varieties. Call (559) 650-0334 for more information or visit fruitworldco.com

    About Fruit World Co.
    Fruit World Co. is a fresh and creative produce company with generations of history. Fruit World Co. grows and ships the most flavorful fruit in California—including organic and conventional citrus, organic grapes, organic stone fruit, and more—and works with customers who share a passion for quality and taste. They’re all about honoring their growers, staying true to their farming heritage, and keeping family farming thriving into future generations. Visit fruitworldco.com.

  • Pest Colonizes Grape Vines, Forms Tumors, Repels other Predators

    Following a decade-long effort, scientists have mapped out the genome of an aphid-like pest capable of decimating vineyards. In so doing, they have discovered how it spreads — and potentially how to stop it.

    The research team’s work on the genome was published this past week in a BMC Biology paper. In it, they identified nearly 3,000 genes enabling the insect, phylloxera, to colonize and feed on grape vines by creating what are essentially nutritionally enhanced tumors. The insects live in and feed off of the structures they create.

    Phylloxera feeding on a grape root.

    “In effect, phylloxera creates its own refrigerator on the plant that it can feed from whenever it wants,” said Paul Nabity, an assistant professor of plant-insect ecology at UC Riverside. In addition to feeding the insects, these structures also protect them from attack by other parasites.

    A heavy phylloxera infestation, as occurred in the Pacific Northwest last year, could cause grapevines to lose their leaves. If the infestation reaches the roots, the plants could die.

    The tumor-like structures, known as galls, disrupt the vine’s ability to move nutrients and feed itself. They also create wounds in roots that make grapevines more susceptible to fungi and other pathogens, ultimately killing the vines.

    Claude Rispe from the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment led the research team, while Nabity helped identify how phylloxera secrete molecules that can change the immune system of grapevines.

    “These molecules alter the plant’s defense systems and make it so that the plant doesn’t know it’s being attacked,” Nabity said.

    Native North American grapevines co-evolved with phylloxera and are now resistant to it. However, most of the grapes we eat and drink are European varieties. As a result, growers have to graft North American roots onto their European grapevines to give them tolerance to this insect.

    Now that the genes involved in the attack on non-native grapes have been identified, it may be possible to engineer phylloxera-resistant grapevines.

    “Growers currently have to graft roots to make their plants viable,” Nabity said. “A lot of money and effort could be saved with pest-resistant rootstocks.”

    About UC Riverside

    The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California’s diverse culture, UCR’s enrollment is more than 24,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of almost $2 billion. To learn more, email news@ucr.edu.