Sustainable Winegrowing

Cover crops play a critical role in building healthy, resilient soils in vineyards and agricultural systems. Sarah Light, Agronomy Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, shares how cover crops protect soil from wind and heavy rain, improve water infiltration, and increase on-farm biodiversity.
She introduces a newly released cover crop selector tool developed for Western growing regions, with guidance on species selection, termination practices, and grower goals such as reducing compaction, fixing nitrogen, and supporting pollinators. This practical resource helps growers choose the best cover crops for their location, crops, and management objectives. 

Resources:  

151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health 
159: Under-Vine Vegetation to Control Vine Vigor
298: How Cover Crops Shape Grapevine Root Systems
Cooperative Extension, Sutter-Yuba Counties
Cover Crop Decision Tool
Cover Cropping in California's Water Scarce Environment
Cover Crop Resources
Sarah Light's Research 
New tool helps farmers select cover crops
UC Ag Experts Talk: Considerations for Cover Crops and Weed Management (video) 

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

Consumers want transparency and sustainability—and they reward it with loyalty and sales. This episode breaks down four key ways to communicate sustainability, from tasting rooms to sales channels, showing how clear, credible messaging builds trust and drives purchasing decisions. 

Resources: 

*** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** 
Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Sustainable Stories
Sustainable Story Worksheet  

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education
Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings
SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards
Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year
Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

A decade of viticulture education is right at your fingertips. Executive Director Beth Vukmanic interviews longtime host Craig MacMillan to celebrate ten years and 300 episodes of the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Together, they reflect on some of Craig's most memorable interviews—from new discoveries in sour rot and space-to-farm technology, to using storytelling to sell more wine and tackling leadership transitions. 

Resources:  

17: New Discoveries about Sour Rot 

129: The Efficient Vineyard Project 

161: Use Storytelling to Sell More Wine 

233: The Gap Between Space and Farm: Ground Truthing Satellite Data Models 

239: Ford Pro Pilot – Trialing Electric Trucks in the Field 

249: Making it Easier to Use Satellite Data in Agriculture 

257: Understanding Winery Visitors – Increase Sales with your Messaging 

268: How to Tackle Leadership Transitions Successfully 

286: To Till or Not to Till: Impacts on Soil, Vines, and Vineyard Budgets 

Craig Macmillan 

Support the Podcast: 

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education 

Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings 

SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards 

Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year 

Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing

While the Whale Rock Music Festival is renowned for rocking the Central Coast every year with live music and family-friendly activities. The event has an even greater purpose: supporting Templeton High School musicians through the parent-volunteer organization, TIMBA. 

Resources: 

*** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** 
Apply for SIP Certified Wine
Marketing Tips eNewsletter
Supporting Arts & Community | Castoro Cellars
Sustainable Story Worksheet   Print  
Electronic  


Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate 
Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours 
SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   
Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year 
Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Root systems are more than just anchors, they are the plant's stomach, communicating with their environment through a network of microbes.
Suzanne Fleishman, Assistant Professor of Root Biology at Penn State University, introduces the emerging field of Root Agroecology, which integrates plant physiology and omic methods to improve sustainability in vineyards. She shares insights from a five-year red fescue cover crop trial showing reduced pruning weights and improved vine balance, as well as shifts in rhizosphere microbiomes.
Her future goal? A grower tool that predicts the best cover crops by site. 

Resources:  

72: Soil Microbes and Nutrient Availability 

151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health 

159: Under-Vine Vegetation to Control Vine Vigor 

Can Cover Crops Improve Wine Grape Production Resilience? 

Research revealing grapevine root relationships 

Root Agroecology Lab 

Suzanne Fleishman 

Suzanne Fleisman – Google Scholar  

Suzanne Fleishman – Research Gate 

Undervine groundcover substantially increases shallow but not deep soil carbon in a temperate vineyard 

Support the Podcast:

Make a Donation 

Vineyard Team Programs: 

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Help students from vineyard families pursue higher education 

Online Courses - Earn DPR and CCA hours with expert-led sustainability trainings 

SIP Certified - A trusted third-party certification proving your sustainable practices with science-backed standards 

Sustainable Ag Expo - Join top experts at the premier winegrowing event of the year 

Vineyard Team Membership - Connect with a community advancing sustainable winegrowing