2026 Fresno State Grape Day California’s grape industry came together at Fresno State Grape Day to explore the latest research, innovations and management practices shaping the future of viticulture. From vineyard technology and sustainable growing methods to networking with industry professionals, the biennial event gave growers and researchers the opportunity to share ideas and discover new tools for success.
Tag: Fresno State Grape Day
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Revitalizing Winery Wastewater in the Vineyard by Cover Cropping
Amidst the current drought, growers can use all the water they can get, and recycling winery wastewater back into the vineyard would seem like a nice idea — except that water from the wineries are generally high in salts/chlorides, which would prove detrimental to soil health… unless certain cover crops planted down vineyard rows could remove the unwanted additives. Watch this brief video with Kristy Sun from the Dept. of Viticulture & Enology at Fresno State as she explains, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
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Measuring Bulk Electrical Conductivity (EC) to Understand Grapevine Water Status
At Fresno State Grape Day, Cliff Yu from the department of viticulture and enology reminded growers of the value of measuring the bulk electrical conductivity (EC) of their vineyard soils to better meet their grapevine water needs. Watch this brief video as he explains, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
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Harnessing the Power of Natural Volatile Compounds in Grapevines that Thwart Sharpshooters
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.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
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Fresno State Researchers Speed Up Grape Composition/Maturity Monitoring Process
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.
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Using Hyperspectral Imaging to Detect Grapevine Water Stress
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.
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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.
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Meet Stephan Sommer, Director of Viticulture and Enology at Fresno State
Have you met Stephan Sommer, Fresno State Director of Viticulture & Enology? He joined the team at Fresno State last year, and growers will get to hear from him at Fresno State’s Grape Day coming up on August 4th, 2020 in a virtual format for the first time ever. Watch this brief interview with Sommer, and read more about what’s going on at the Viticulture & Enology Research Center in American Vineyard Magazine.Please Thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support. -
Key Indicators that Wine Grapes are Ready for Harvest
So how do you know when your wine grapes are ready for harvest? Wineries are looking for more than just solid brix levels. There are other chemical indicators to consider. This was one of the topics of discussion at California State University Fresno’s biennial industry Grape Day. Watch this brief interview with Tim Holt from E&J Gallo Winery as he provides his perspective on what growers should be looking for to know that their grapes are ready to harvest and produce quality wines. Read more of the proceedings of Fresno State Grape Day in American Vineyard Magazine.
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