California raisin harvest is underway and growers are anxious to find out what they will get for this year’s crop. Raisin Bargaining Association Chairman Charles Salmon and board member Dwayne Cardoza met with American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share their outlook for this year’s crop with some concern for adverse weather at harvest and other factors influencing crop size and anticipated grower returns. Watch this brief interview, and save the date, Friday Nov. 14th for the annual State of the California Raisin Industry presentation at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, featuring representatives from the Raisin Bargaining Association and Sun-Maid Growers.
Category: Grape Industry
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Lodi Winegrape Commission Elects Youngest Leadership Team In 34-Year History
A new generation of leaders is stepping forward to guide the Lodi wine region into the future. During its August meeting, the 2025–2026 board of directors of the Lodi Winegrape Commission assumed service and elected fresh leadership as the next generation of winegrowers assumes key roles alongside seasoned industry veterans.
The board appointed a historic slate of officers representing the youngest leadership team in the Commission’s 34-year history. Jacylyn Stokes Iniguez was elected chair, Hadyn Schatz vice chair, Pieter den Hartog secretary, and Scott Armolea treasurer. Together, this new leadership embodies the dynamic energy and forward-thinking vision needed to navigate today’s evolving wine industry.
Commissioners remain unchanged for the 2025–2026 term, with all current members continuing their service – Scott Armolea, Pieter den Hartog, Jason Eells, Dirk Heuvel, Jacylyn Stokes Iniguez, Farrah Felten Jolley, Joan Kautz, Diego Olagaray (chair, 2023–2025), and Hadyn Schatz. Galen Schmiedt joins current alternates Gerardo Espinosa, Joe Larranaga, Colton Machado, Brett Pieretti, and Mitch Spaletta.
A Legacy of Innovation Continues
This transition continues a legacy of service as Stokes, along with Schatz and den Hartog, are carrying forward their families’ multi-generational commitment to the region. They follow in the footsteps of their fathers, who also served on the Commission’s board of directors:
- Rodney Schatz, Peltier Winery & Vineyards — 1991–1999 (chair, 1997–1999)
- Bill Stokes, Stokes Brothers Farms — 2003–2011
- Pieter den Hartog, Den Hartog International Farms, Inc. — 2013–2019
This generational turnover reflects the deep agricultural roots and family commitment that defines Lodi’s winegrowing community, while bringing fresh perspectives on sustainability, innovation, and market adaptation.
Leading through Industry Evolution
Stokes holds leadership roles at both Stokes Vineyards and Stokes Brothers Farms, focusing on vineyard operations and sustainability, and is the owner of La Belle Nue Wine. She has served on the Commission’s board of directors since 2020, previously holding the offices of secretary (2023–2024) and vice chair (2024–2025), and also serves on the Commission’s Grower Marketing Committee. Stokes is a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership Program and, alongside her husband, Jeff Iniguez, recently assumed the lease of her family’s old vine Zinfandel ranch, continuing a generational connection to Lodi. Her election as chair represents both continuity and change for the region.
“Lodi is a place where I learned the value of hard work, family, and farming from a young age,” says Stokes. “While the market is shifting, our purpose remains the same; to uplift this region by telling its story and sustaining our community. Our parents helped to build this commission in 1991, not just as growers but as visionaries, and today we honor that legacy by embracing what it means to lead in a new era.”
“This year’s board reflects a meaningful shift, with a new generation stepping confidently into leadership roles,” said Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Stuart Spencer. “These talented young professionals are inspiring the entire community as they take the reins alongside seasoned leaders. That blend of fresh energy, forward-thinking vision, and deep agricultural heritage positions us well to continue advancing Lodi as California’s most dynamic wine region.”
The board also welcomes back Galen Schmiedt as an alternate for 2025–2026. Schmiedt is a fourth-generation grape grower and vineyard owner actively involved in his family’s business, Carl Schmiedt Farming. He previously served eight consecutive years as a commissioner from 2012–2020, including a term as chair (2015–2017), and brings valuable institutional knowledge to support the new leadership team.
Honoring Dedicated Service
Rolling off the board of directors are Garret Schaefer (JW Moore Vineyards) and Todd Maley (Maley Vineyards), who each completed six consecutive years of service from 2019–2025. Both continue their active involvement with the Commission, with Schaefer serving on the Grower Marketing Committee and Maley on the Winery Marketing Committee.
“On behalf of the entire board of directors, I want to extend our sincere thanks to Garret and Todd for their years of dedicated service to the Lodi winegrowing community,” said Stuart Spencer, Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission. “Their leadership, insight, and deep commitment to the region have left a lasting impact. We are grateful for their contributions and look forward to their continued involvement in the community.”
About the Lodi Winegrape Commission
Established in 1991, the Lodi Winegrape Commission represents the common interests of Lodi winegrowers with programs in marketing, education, research, and sustainable viticulture. The Commission collectively and effectively promotes Lodi’s vibrant, multi-generational farming community and California’s most dynamic wine region. Comprised of nine commissioners and nine alternates, the board of directors provides direction and input on behalf of the region’s 750 winegrowers cultivating 85,000 acres of winegrapes. For more information about the Lodi Winegrape Commission, visit lodigrowers.com.
About the Lodi American Viticultural Area (AVA)
A historic winegrowing region since the 1850s, Lodi is perfectly situated 40 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco. Lodi’s Mediterranean climate and distinct soils allow its growers to cultivate more than 130 winegrape varieties, making Lodi the most diverse winegrowing region in the United States. The region also serves as home to more than 85 wineries – from boutique producers to legacy brands – specializing in hand-crafted wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions.
Lodi is naturally a leader in sustainable viticulture. Created by California farmers and accredited by world-renowned scientists, LODI RULES is America’s original sustainable winegrowing program. Held to a high standard of scientific rigor and excellence, the program emphasizes environmentally and socially responsible practices, while keeping economic feasibility in mind for long-term business success. Today, there are more than 75,000 acres certified throughout California, in Washington, and Israel. For more information about the Lodi AVA or LODI RULES, visit lodiwine.com and lodirules.org.
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2025 California Wine Grape Crop Forecast & Path to Balance in the Market
How much longer is the wine industry going to be in the tanks? California wine grape growers anticipate delivering a high quality crop to the wineries this year; however, many are concerned whether there will be a home for their grapes, due to the global decline in demand for wine and other alcoholic beverages. At the annual meeting of Allied Grape Growers, President Jeff Bitter shared that the industry will likely see some grapes go unharvested again this year. Watch this brief interview, as Jeff meets with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss the expectations for this year’s crop and where the industry needs to be supply-wise in order to return to balance with the decline in demand. Read more details in the August issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
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Research Suggests Fresh Grapes are a Superfood
A new article appearing in the current issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry explores the concept of “superfoods” and makes a case that fresh grapes have earned what should be a prominent position in the superfood family. The author, leading resveratrol and cancer researcher John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D., D.Sc., Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University, brings forth an array of evidence to support his perspective on this issue.
As noted in the article, the term “superfood” is a common word without an official definition or established criteria. Mainstream superfoods are typically part of the Mediterranean Diet and generally rich in natural plant compounds that are beneficial to a person’s health. Pezzuto addresses the broader topic of superfoods in detail, then makes the scientific case for grapes, noting that fresh grapes are underplayed in this arena and often not included with mention of other similar foods, such as berries.
Grapes are a natural source of over 1,600 compounds, including antioxidants and other polyphenols such as flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins, phenolic acids, resveratrol, and more. Polyphenols are credited with the health benefits of grapes, via antioxidant activity and influencing cellular processes. It is the whole grape and the unique matrix of these compounds within it that creates the biological effects, not a single component.
Over sixty peer-reviewed studies have been published in the scientific literature on grapes and health. The role of grapes on cardiovascular health is well established, including promoting relaxation of blood vessels and healthy circulation, as well as modulating cholesterol levels. Clinical trials also show that grapes support brain health (help maintain healthy brain metabolism and beneficial impacts on cognition), skin health (enhanced resistance to UV radiation and DNA damage in skin cells), gut health (modulating the gut microbiome and increasing diversity in the gut), and eye health (retinal impact via increase in macular pigment optical density). Finally, in the realm of nutrigenomics – the study of foods on gene expression in the body – grape consumption has been shown to positively alter gene expression in relevant body systems. Pezzuto suggests that it is these activities at the genetic level that are likely the
driving force behind the health benefits of grapes.
“Dr. Pezzuto shows that based on the science, grapes are indeed a superfood, and should be recognized as such,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission, “and we are hopeful that using this nomenclature in association with grapes becomes common practice. Luckily, whether consumed for health or sheer enjoyment as a healthy snack, eating California grapes is a win for consumers.”
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Daily Consumption of Grapes Improves Muscle Strength Markers in Postmenopausal Women
A new study from the University of California, Davis, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Function, provides the first clinical evidence showing that regular consumption of grapes – just 1 ½ cups per day – can improve muscle strength and boost irisin levels in postmenopausal women. The results suggest a promising strategy against age-related muscle decline, also known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and strength. These losses can start as early as age 40 and with progression over time, sarcopenia adversely affects quality of life including degree of mobility, loss of independence, and higher healthcare costs.
In this study, led by Gerardo Mackenzie, Ph.D., one group of subjects consumed whole grape powder (equivalent to 1 ½ cups fresh grapes per day), while the other group consumed a placebo powder that had none of the beneficial phytonutrients found in grapes. The women consuming grape powder significantly improved their performance on the tests of muscle strength: hand grip and gait speed. Irisin, a hormone that is beneficial for muscle and bone growth, was also measured pre-and post-study interventions. Those consuming grapes had a 14.4% increase in plasma irisin levels, while the placebo group saw a 7.8% decrease in irisin levels, although the changes did not reach statistical significance. However, the research team observed a positive and significant association between changes in grip strength and changes in irisin levels from baseline to the end of the study.
“These findings indicate that regularly consuming a modest amount of grapes – just 1 ½ cups per day – can help improve muscle strength in postmenopausal women who are at risk for muscle loss as part of aging,” said Mackenzie. “Incorporating grapes into the diet may offer an easy and promising nutritional approach to help mitigate sarcopenia, a condition for which there are no effective treatment options.”
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Scouting for Vine Mealybug and Other Pests with American Vineyard Live
Kent Daane, UC Cooperative Extension Entomology Specialist, and Jeannine Lowrimore of Pacific Bio Control join American Vineyard Live to discuss some of the best practices for control of Vine Mealybug and other vineyard pests this summer. Watch the one hour presentation now or listen at the links below.
Special thanks to the title sponsor Pacific Bio Control.
Watch our previous Presentation: What Weeds are Telling You About Your Soil Health with American Vineyard Live
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Mendocino Winegrowers Announces New Executive Director
Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc. (MWI) is excited to announce Diego Mendoza as the organization’s new Executive Director. MWI, a 501c6 focused on supporting the grape growers and winemakers of Mendocino County through education and marketing initiatives, hired Mendoza earlier this month after the previous Executive Director announced her resignation due to a move out of the area.
Mendoza is a Mendocino county local with deep ties to the wine industry: he grew up watching many of his family members at work in the vineyards, and his strong community ties and love for his home county make him a natural fit for the role. His technical abilities, marketing acumen, and long-standing goal of giving back to the community that raised him are among a few of the reasons he was selected. Mendoza is the founder of Mendozino, a marketing and creative services agency, and has experience as an IT and network engineer with a focus on improving communications, integrating technology, and streamlining systems.
“The hiring committee was so impressed with Diego; it was clear he had given a lot of thought to what he could bring to the position and how he could help evolve the organization,” says MWI Treasurer Chris Buchanan, who is also the owner and winemaker of Terragena Wine.
Mendoza is starting from a sprint as one of the flagship events of the organization, Taste of Mendocino, is coming up on Saturday, June 28 at the Wyndham Garden Inn in Redwood Valley. This beloved annual event invites locals and visitors alike to savor both the wine and culinary culture of one of California’s most iconic wine regions, at a fraction of the price one might pay at a similar event in Napa or Sonoma counties.
The selection of Mendoza as the new Executive Director is important both for the success of Taste of Mendocino and for the future of MWI as the wine industry continues to face strong headwinds amidst declining consumption, increased tariffs, and the impacts of climate change. “Diego has a unique perspective which allows him to see the big picture while also generating clear and actionable goals to elevate the image and reach of Mendocino,” says Buchanan. “This is not the time for anyone in the industry to settle for how things have always been done; this is a time to push ourselves to grow and evolve, and Diego is going to help MWI do just that.”
The recent designation of Mendocino County by Wine Enthusiast magazine as the American Wine Region of the Year is an opportunity to raise the bar for all producers in the county, and MWI is committed to leveraging this and all other opportunities to increase awareness of the award-winning wines being made in the region. With Mendoza at the helm, the MWI governing board is optimistic about the organization’s future.
To learn more about MWI and Taste of Mendocino, visit www.mendowine.com.
About MWI
Mendocino Winegrowers Incorporated (MWI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the vintners and grape growers of Mendocino County. With a focus on education, marketing, and sustainability, MWI plays a pivotal role in elevating the visibility of the region’s wines, both nationally and internationally. -
Popular Grape Camp Returns to Sonoma County
Sonoma County Winegrowers has just announced it is bringing back one of its most popular programs this fall when Grape Camp returns. This three-day immersion in all thing’s agriculture, wine and food in Sonoma County is an experience of a lifetime. From vineyard immersions led by growers to sommelier-led wine tastings to unforgettable farm to table gatherings, the camp allows participants to learn first-hand why Sonoma County is a wine and food mecca.
“Grape Camp is much loved by past campers because it is true wine country immersion! The best part is getting to meet so many of our local family farmers and winemakers,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We took a few years off, but we regularly received inquiries asking if Grape Camp was going to return, so we are thrilled to bring back this ‘bucket list’ experience for wine lovers.”
Grape Camp is more than an event — it is a celebration of community, craftsmanship, and connection to the land. From picking grapes alongside multi-generational farmers to blending wines and dining under the stars, guests will savor the region’s bounty in its most authentic form. Grape Camp offers a unique blend of Sonoma County’s luxurious hospitality and its grassroots winegrowing heritage.
Sonoma County is home to more than 495 wineries, over 100 wine grape varieties and 19 distinct wine growing appellations, as well as 50 miles of coastline—more than any other wine region in California. The region’s dynamic landscape and commitment to sustainability make it the perfect place to learn, sip, and savor. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or simply wine-curious, Sonoma County Winegrowers invites you to be part of the story — from vine to glass.
Grape Camp will be held September 28 through October 1, 2025. Space is limited, so reserve your space now by visiting https://sonomawinegrape.org/grape-camp-2025/.
About Sonoma County Winegrowers: Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grapegrowers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).
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UC Davis Launches Small-Batch Wine Label
The UC Davis cabernet sauvignons and a sauvignon blanc from Hilgard631. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis) For the first time in its storied history, the University of California, Davis, is selling wines to the public made by students, staff and faculty from grapes they grow in the Napa Valley and around campus in Yolo County.
Hilgard631 has been in the works for more than 10 years and was made possible by a 2021 state law that allows the transfer of as much as 20,000 gallons of Department of Viticulture and Enology wines to a nonprofit that will handle public sales. With this release, the department bottled roughly 500 gallons of wine to sell.
The vineyard behind the Robert Mondavi Institute of Wine and Food Science at UC Davis. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis) Money from the sales will support student scholarships. By using the grapes and wines produced through teaching, the department is enhancing sustainability. Prior to these sales, wines made by students, including in a 10-week winemaking course, had to be discarded.
“These wines represent our students, their knowledge, creativity and learning,” said Ben Montpetit, chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. “From vine to bottle, our students are involved in every step.”
Students participating in a grape crush. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis) The wine label name pays homage to Eugene Hilgard, founding director of the university’s Agricultural Experiment Station, and 631, which is the address of the Teaching and Research Winery on campus.
The wines sold under Hilgard631 include a 2020 cabernet sauvignon and 2024 sauvignon blanc made from grapes at Oakville Station, a research and teaching vineyard in the heart of Napa County.
Grapes grown by students in the Department of Viticulture and Enology as part of a winemaking class. (Karin Higgins / UC Davis) Twelve other wines made by students in the product development class, known as VEN 127L, also will be for sale, including albariño, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah.
VEN 127L has traditionally been focused on blending, wine stabilization, bottling and the design of labels, and this launch broadens the class to include the consideration of selling, said Professor David Block, who created the course in 2017 when he was chair of the department.
Empty bottles being filled with sauvignon blanc on a mobile bottling line, which students learn to use as part of a winemaking course. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis) “The wines are made by students who are still learning and getting to try out things they may not have done before,” Block said. “It’s a new aspect of the program. It’s more sustainable than pouring it down the drain.”
In VEN 127L, student winemakers are divided into three groups and charged with developing a red and white wine. Each group also gets help from a professional consultant and department alum who offers advice throughout the class.
Students walking a vineyard and learning about different grape varieties as part of a viticulture class. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis) “It’s absolutely fascinating,” said Leticia Chacón-Rodríguez, the winemaker and winery manager. “The students get to connect everything that they learn — all the chemistry, regulations, marketing and blending. The blending piece is where you really put your senses into play.”
Students also design their own labels. Master’s student Bainian Chen designed the Oakville Station labels, which are a mix of vibrant colors and some familiar campus sights such as the water tower and a bike.
Labels of the Oakville Station sauvignon blanc being affixed to bottles. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis) “I usually love my pictures to be very colorful, full of imagination,” said Chen, who is known to give artwork to friends and professors. “I wanted to leave something for the viticulture and enology department.”
The student winemakers also helped label and bottle the wines, working a commercial mobile bottling line in a trailer behind the winery.
“To see it being bottled is coming full circle for all of us,” master’s student Megan Hill said.
Block feels the same way. “I want to buy the first bottle of wine,” he said.
Winemaker Leticia Chacón-Rodríguez working with students in the Teaching and Research Winery. (Karen Block / UC Davis) Wines will range in price from $30 to $40 per bottle for student labels and from $50 to $125 per bottle for the Oakville wines. The winery is bonded and meets federal regulations for commercial wine sales. More information can be found at the Hilgard631 website. – By Emily C. Dooley, UC Davis
Students taking wine bottles off a mobile bottling line and placing them in boxes for future use. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis)