Vineyard Underground

We can't help you make (or keep) your fitness resolutions, but today we will give you the information you need to make your vineyard healthier, happier, and more productive in the new year. On today's episode, we're going to talk about vineyard resolutions, specifically, the top five actions to Be a Better Grape Grower in 2023. These are actions that can be applied by growers of all experience levels. So stick around and make some New Year's resolutions for your vineyard. In this episode, you will hear: Why you must measure and monitor the pH of your water The importance of irrigation distribution uniformity Why monitoring your irrigation cycles is critical for vine health How nutrient sampling is essential for your vine health and your wallet How pruning impacts the longevity of your vineyard Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered, and check out the episode blog post for a printable version of the vineyard resolutions from this episode. Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com. Upcoming FREE Virtual Learning Events: Top 10 Dormant Pruning Mistakes in Your Vineyard - January 19, 2023 | 6:00-7:30 PM CST Using Soil Moisture Monitoring for Irrigation Management - February 9, 2023 | 6:00-7:30 PM CST Episode Resource Links: Resolution 2 - Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Irrigation Distribution Uniformity Testing (University of California) Resolution 4 – Nutrient Sample at Bloom and Veraison Target Nutrient Values – Petioles Target Nutrient Values – Whole Leaves How to Properly Sample Leaf Tissue for Analysis Know Where Your Nutrients Come From Instructions for Grape Leaf Blade Sampling Instructions for Grape Petiole Sampling Resolution 5 – Prune for Vineyard Longevity Episode 6 - Why Pruning is the Most Important Vineyard Activity - With Marco Tessari Preventing Grapevine Trunk Disease Pruning Shear Sharpening Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

This week we are joined by a few growers who have recently started their own vineyards as they share their personal experiences and advice for you if you are considering planting a vineyard. Even if you've already planted your vineyard, you're still going to get some great advice from this fun episode. Vineyard owners come from many walks of life, so today with chat with a working professional that developed his vineyard with his family along side of his current career, a family that left the corporate world at a young age to start their vineyard, and a lovely couple who started their vineyard to keep them busy as they enter into retirement. Our guests today are Craig Little from the award-winning Stone Ashe Vineyards and Winery in Hendersonville, NC, Daniel and Kristina Limoges from the breathtaking Limoges Cellars in Cleveland, GA, and John and Rebecca Greenan from Las Huertas de Tejas Vineyard in Clairette, TX. In this episode, you will hear: About our guests and what made them want to start a vineyard Their most and least favorite parts about growing a vineyard Common mistakes to avoid and what they wish they could have had done differently Their advice for anyone considering establishing a vineyard site Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Craig Little Stone Ashe Vineyards: https://www.stoneashevineyards.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoneashe_vineyard/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoneAsheVineyard/ Daniel & Kristina Limoges Limoges Cellars: https://limogescellars.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limogescellars Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/limogescellars/ John & Rebecca Greenan Las Huertas de Tejas Vineyard: https://lashuertasdetejas.com/ (website coming soon) Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com. If you are considering whether vineyard ownership is right for you, check out the Prospective Wine Grower Course on VirtualViticultureAcademy.com and review the FREE Vineyard Establishment Checklist. If you have land and are planting in the next 2-4 years, you can check out the Vineyard Establishment Package. This is a very affordable way to ensure that you get your vineyard planned and planted correctly with help on all aspects from me and the team. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Are you dreaming of starting a vineyard? If so, then this special 2-part episode is for you! Starting a vineyard can very quickly turn from a dream into a nightmare if you aren't properly educated and prepared for what it takes to start, own, and grow a successful vineyard. On today's episode, Fritz shares some key factors you need to consider before you start a vineyard. In Part II, you will hear from growers like you who have recently planted and established their first vineyards as they talk about their experiences being new vineyard owners. In this episode, you will hear: What makes for a good or bad vineyard location The importance of topography and soil Why you absolutely must have a proper and adequate water source The reasons why land use history for your site and the surrounding areas are important What it takes from you as a vineyard owner to be successful Common mistakes growers make in starting a vineyard, and how to avoid them Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Learn to Be a Better Grape Grower with VirtualViticultureAcademy.com. If you are considering whether vineyard ownership is right for you, check out the Prospective Wine Grower Course on VirtualViticultureAcademy.com and review the FREE Vineyard Establishment Checklist. If you have land and are planting in the next 2-4 years, you can check out the Vineyard Establishment Package. This is a very affordable way to ensure that you get your vineyard planned and planted correctly with help on all aspects from me and the team. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Pruning has consequences, but only through awareness, can you improve your technique. We need to prune every year, but we have to do it properly and in a way that's respectful to the vine. After all, how your vines grow largely depends on how you treat them. In today's episode, international pruning expert Marco Tessari imparts his wisdom and knowledge about pruning as well as some tips and strategies to either start applying now or at least be thinking about as you're trying to develop your permanent vine structure. Sharing his expertise, whether traveling around the world or through online consultation, Marco is literally revolutionizing how growers are pruning their own vineyards. Marco also teaches an annual premium course for our Virtual Viticulture Academy community of growers that has been a huge success and has really helped a lot of growers learn how to prune properly and improve their vine productivity and longevity. Through his consulting, he's able to teach people how to prune and follow them through the process day by day, not just giving instructions but spending long hours in the vineyard. When he's not in the vineyard, Marco spends his time bobsled training. The fastest he has gone is 90 miles per hour! In this episode, you will hear: Important aspects of pruning ​​The common reasons that pruning goes wrong Signs and examples of poor pruning practices Tips for training your crew How to renew a trunk while keeping the vine in production How to get past the fear of the spur creep Understanding the actual trunk structure of the vine Tips for new pruners Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Resources: Do you have pruning questions for Marco or Fritz or other vineyard questions? Click the Ask Fritz button at VineyardUndergoundPodcast.com. Get more information on Marco's 2023 Virtual Viticulture Academy pruning courses by contacting us at [email protected] or visiting 2023 Pruning Courses. FREE Pruning Guides Preventing Grapevine Trunk Disease Pruning Shear Sharpening Learn from 100+ winegrape growing videos and how-to-guides on the Grower Guide Library on Virtual Viticulture Academy. Today's Guest: Marco Tessari is an international pruning expert based out of Montebelluna, Italy. Marco works with vineyards all over the world in person and virtually and is revolutionizing the art and science of vineyard pruning. Follow Marco or contact Marco. Other Mentions: Hear Fritz on episode 155 of the Sustainable Winegrowing podcast from the Vineyard Team. Check out Montecalvi Winery in the Chianti Classico area of central Tuscany that Fritz and Marco mention in the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

If you're an experienced grape grower, you likely already have a good grasp of your pest and disease management program, your general fertilization strategy, and your vineyard management and labor. As your vines grow and age, there's another set of challenges that you may have to face as an experienced grower. On today's episode of Vineyard Underground, we turn our focus on the three common challenges experienced growers may encounter. As your vineyards age, hopefully, they grow like fine wine. If you're a seasoned grower, this episode is made for you. And if you're a beginner grower, you can get ahead of the game by listening to this episode and learning what to expect as your vineyard matures. But make sure you've also listened to the previous episode on the top three common challenges for new growers and how to navigate those. Finally, if you're a grower with a troubled vineyard, maybe your vineyard is ailing or declining, Fritz is also sharing some special insights just for you. In this episode, you will hear: Dealing with premature vine decline Things to think about when marketing your brand Scaling your vineyard for future growth What to do when your vineyard has already declined Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Access grower guide resources at Virtual Viticulture Academy - https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Starting a vineyard is exciting, but it also presents some unique challenges that new growers are often unprepared for. You have to be wary of things like pests and diseases or make sure you're not overfertilizing your soil. Not to mention, finding an experienced crew that can handle complex and skilled activities in the vineyard. All that can be overwhelming – unless you have a great plan in place. In today's episode, Fritz talks about the top three most common challenges for new grape growers and how to avoid them. If you're an experienced grower, this episode is also a good measure for you to see how far you've come in your vineyard journey. Hopefully, being aware of these challenges and knowing how to prevent them or deal with them will get you prepared for the actual challenges that will come your way as a new grower. In this episode, you will hear: Designing and implementing a pest and disease management program Knowing whether to fertilize and when to apply a fertilizer Identifying the timing and delivery of your fertilizers Determining what fertilizer to use Understanding the soil mobility of certain nutrients Finding and managing vineyard labor Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Free Resources: Download the Preparing for New Plantings guide to learn about soil sampling for new plantings - https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/preparing_for_new_plantings/ Download the Target Nutrient Values in Soil reference chart- https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/target-nutrient-values-in-soil/ Download the Vineyard Establishment Checklist for a comprehensive list of tasks to complete for starting a vineyard- https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/vineyard-establishment-checklist/ View all Grower Guide resources on Virtual Viticulture Academy https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/ Get Help/Learn More: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Get the Prospective Wine Grower Course https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/product/prospective-winegrower-course/ to learn everything you need to start and grow your vineyard successfully. Get help from Fritz to get your vineyard planned and planted with the virtual Vineyard Establishment Package - https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/product/vineyard-establishment-package/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Whether you're new to grape growing or you just need a bit of confidence to assure you're doing things alright, there may be some questions that you might be asking yourself that need some clarification. In today's episode, Fritz reveals the top three questions about growing grapes that he hears all the time. He also shares practical tips to give you the solution and confidence that you need in your vineyard. Fritz has been helping grape growers achieve success in their vineyards for over 20 years through various positions he had held within the industry. Having worked with universities as a private consultant and educator, Fritz has definitely heard a lot of questions related to grape growing. Hopefully, you'll find some things you can apply to your vineyard as well. In this episode, you will hear: The best method to train your newly planted vines What causes the spots on the leaves and what to do with them Spraying vines before or after a rain event Examples of curative products applied after the rain Understanding the modes of action in products Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Access grower guide resources at Virtual Viticulture Academy - https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Why underground? You may ask. Well, have you tried sorting out a vineyard problem? You probably searched for answers in a textbook or some online resource. But what you see online or in textbooks doesn't always apply to your exact situation because there is a lot of variability from one vineyard to the next. You've got to figure out how to get to that perfect picture of what a vine should look like – but the routes can be numerous. Sometimes, we have questions that need a little bit more digging and more effort to get to the right answers. That is what the Vineyard Underground podcast is here for – to help you dig deeper into resources you wouldn't have otherwise gotten from what you see on the surface. Let this podcast help you dig deeper into the problems you find in your vines and help you find the solutions. The Vineyard Underground is your very own underground that allows you to access experts and information about all aspects of grape growing. In this episode, you will hear: The #1 objective of the Vineyard Underground podcast About the Virtual Viticulture Academy and the resources you'll find there Making grape growing education fun, portable, and useful Some experts coming on the show – soon! What you'll get from this podcast week after week Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Click the "Ask Fritz" button at vineyardundergroundpodcast.com to get your vineyard question answered. Access grower guide resources at Virtual Viticulture Academy - https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/grower-guides/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Welcome to the Vineyard Underground Podcast where we unearth what you need to know to be a better grape grower! Hosted by Fritz Westover, this podcast is designed to help grape growers achieve success in their vineyard journey. In each episode, we'll share best practices in the industry, offer practical tips, and answer questions. We will help growers, like you, make some quick wins through practical information you can directly use in your vineyard. We're bringing in some experts, not just in the field of viticulture (the science of grape growing), but also in soil science, geology, or anything that can impact the way grape vines grow. Having worked and met with a lot of people from various regions all over the country, Fritz brings in a ton of perspective and first-hand knowledge about the art and science of grape growing. Fritz has made mistakes and has seen a lot of mistakes made over the years. And so, the goal is to help you not make those same mistakes. In this episode, Fritz shares his journey and his passion for not just grape growing itself, but also for helping other grape growers excel. He talks about his background, the community he has built through The Virtual Viticulture Academy, and now, the Vineyard Underground Podcast in the hope to reach out to as many people around the world who want to advance in this industry. In this episode, you will hear: Where Fritz's passion for grape growing came from Fritz's educational background in horticulture and plant pathology His first real dive into his career as a viticulturist at Virginia Tech Working with grape growers in Texas The origins of Westover Vineyard Advising Founding the Virtual Viticulture Academy Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Virtual Viticulture Academy: https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestoverVineyardAdvising Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westoverviticulture/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

What if you could hang out with experienced grape growers, ask them about the science of grape growing, vineyard operations, and more; then take an insight or two to improve your vineyard and ultimately the quality of the wines you produce? That's what we do each week on the Vineyard Underground. Hosted by Fritz Westover –– viticulture expert more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at grape growing methods, care, and even complicated matters of fertilization and pest and disease management? The goal is to provide you an understanding of the the complicated aspects of viticulture science so that experienced and even the first-time grape grower will be able to understand and implement new practices in their vineyard.