Vineyard Underground

What if a vineyard's strongest defense against fungal disease starts with the grape variety itself? Fritz talks with Dr. Oliver Trapp, head of grapevine breeding at Germany's Julius Kühn Institute, about PIWI varieties and their role in more resilient viticulture.

Oliver explains how breeders combine resistance from wild grape species with desirable wine traits, why breeding can take roughly 25 years, and how DNA markers help identify resistance genes. Stacking multiple genes may make resistance more durable, but PIWIs still need a thoughtful spray program.

They discuss Calardis Blanc, Calardis Muscat, Calardis Soleil, and Calardis R...

In this bonus episode, Fritz explains why he founded the Virtual Viticulture Academy in 2018. He describes three motivations: consulting travel limited how many growers he could serve; some growers couldn't afford or find individual advice; and vineyard management could feel isolating without nearby peers. The academy was created as a trusted source for research-based vineyard information and a community where growers can ask questions, share vineyard photos and challenges, and learn from one another.

Fritz discusses how the academy now connects growers across the United States and around the world. Listen in to learn about the free...

Fritz welcomes Penn State entomologist Dr. Julie Urban for a look back at ten years of spotted lanternfly research — and what vineyard owners have learned along the way. Julie explains why grapevines are especially vulnerable: late-season feeding can disrupt resource flow and drain the carbohydrate reserves vines need for winter.

They walk through the lanternfly's life cycle, its unpredictable movement among host plants, and why spring nymph counts don't necessarily tell growers where adults will show up later. They also talk scouting, insecticide timing, tree of heaven, and research into gentler controls, parasitoid wasps, and even vibrations se...

Leading microbial ecologist from UC San Diego, Dr. Jack Gilbert joins us to talk about how soil and management decisions shape the vine and wine microbiome. We start by defining what a microbiome is in plain vineyard terms, and Dr. Gilbert explains how vines "select" specific microbes from the surrounding soil to support nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and overall vine health.

We then walk through Dr. Gilbert's Merlot study that showed roughly 95% of the vine microbiome originates from the soil, and we discuss how these early microbial reactions can influence wine character before commercial yeast ever goes...

A big life change is brewing as Fritz shares a personal update from his new home base in Denver, Colorado! After nearly two decades in Houston, he and his family have moved to be closer to the mountains, cooler weather, and an outdoor lifestyle, while still staying near a major airport so he can keep serving growers across the Americas. 

Nothing about the support, education, or consulting listeners receive is changing; if anything, Fritz feels more energized and inspired to bring fresh ideas to the podcast and the Virtual Viticulture Academy community. 

In this episode, yo...

Fritz welcomes back Dr. Kendra Baumgartner, a longtime friend and one of his very first podcast guests, to tackle a question every grower eventually faces: when does an aging vineyard block cross from struggling to done? Kendra walks through the trunk diseases, root pathogens, and viruses that build up in vines over decades, explaining which problems a vine can carry for years and which ones signal it's time to act. Fritz and Kendra cover how to sample and diagnose these issues in the field, when retraining a vine still makes sense, and when replanting is the smarter call.

In this episode, Fritz talks with Shiraz Mottiar, Team Principal and GM at Malivoir Wine Company in Ontario, Canada, about three sustainability practices any vineyard can put into place, whether or not they are pursuing certification.

Shiraz shares the story of Malivoir's growth on the Beamsville Bench and his long involvement with Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario and research at Brock University's Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute. Fritz and Shiraz compare certified sustainable vs organic approaches, focusing on how sustainability balances environmental care, community impact, and business viability.

Listeners learn how Malivoir manages soil health through...

In this bonus episode, Fritz shares key lessons from his week in Ontario as the invited speaker for the 13th Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series, hosted by Brock University's Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute.

Speaking directly to cool-climate vineyard owners and managers, Fritz explains why nutrient management is a pressing topic for Canadian growers, particularly in non-irrigated vineyards that rely on ground-applied fertilizers. He walks through current practices in Ontario, contrasts them with fertigation approaches used in British Columbia, and highlights where growers have strong foundations and where there is room to refine their approach.<...

In this Q&A episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz answers real-world questions from growers across the U.S., covering late-season disease management, water and nutrient strategy, and vine removal decisions. Fritz talks through post-harvest care for young, non-bearing vines, how to handle irrigation and foliar disease pressure in different regions, and clears up confusion around growing degree days. 

He also explains how to work with phosphorous acid fungicides and spray tank pH, why and how to remove struggling vines when repurposing a block, and ways to improve fruit acidity and yeast-assimilable nitrogen for better fermentations. The episode c...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz talks with Dr. Mark Krasnow of Thoughtful Viticulture about how to tell real vine stress from false alarms in the vineyard.

Mark explains why grapevines are often tougher than they look and breaks stress into three main categories: water, heat, and wind. He and Fritz highlight common misreads and show how these assumptions lead to overwatering, shallow roots, excess vigor, and higher disease risk.

The conversation focuses on using data instead of guesswork, pairing tools such as pressure bombs, porometers, and soil moisture probes so growers can set...

In this conversation, Fritz continues his deep dive with Thijs Verschuuren of Herman J. Wiemer, exploring practical baby steps toward biodynamic and organic vineyard management. Thijs walks through how he structures a non-systemic spray program in a high-disease-pressure region, breaking down critical spray timing, coverage strategies, and why he treats bloom and cap fall as "non-negotiable" spray windows.

They discuss how Thijs combines copper, sulfur, plant teas, biologicals, and newer tools like chitosan-based fungicides and kaolin clay to target downy mildew, black rot, powdery mildew, and leafhoppers, while staying within strict copper limits and managing livestock safety.<...

In this episode, we dig into what it really looks like to take manageable, real-world steps toward biodynamic and organic winegrowing with Thijs (Taze) Verschuuren, Director of Vineyard Biology and biodynamic specialist at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in New York's Finger Lakes.

We follow Thijs's path from European wine regions to the Finger Lakes and unpack the make-or-break 2018 season. That side‑by‑side contrast pushed the team to fully embrace biodynamics and pursue Demeter certification.

We break down biodynamics in practical terms: treating the farm as a living, self-sustaining organism that integrates cover crops, livestock, comp...

We mark a major milestone with our 100th episode by stepping back to look at where the vineyard industry has been and where it's headed next. Fritz walks us through what's in, what's out, and what's coming for growers who want to stay profitable and resilient.

We start with the changing economics of grape growing. Planting Cab, Merlot, or Syrah on speculation no longer pencils out in an oversupplied market. Instead, we focus on matching varieties to region, climate (including future climate), water availability, disease pressure, and a clearly defined sales channel.

From there, we...

Dr. Katie Gold and Dave Combs from Cornell University join Fritz to unpack one of the most confusing topics facing winegrape growers today: how biological fungicides truly fit into a spray program.

Katie explains how the Cornell grape pathology program has expanded rapidly, moving from strictly conventional efficacy trials into extensive work with biologicals as more of these products come out of R&D pipelines. She outlines why growers can't rely on "the next new conventional" anymore and how biologicals are becoming essential tools for sustainable disease management and resistance stewardship.

Dave brings decades of...

Small vineyard decisions made early in the season can create major ripple effects later in the year, and in this episode, Fritz breaks down three vineyard management tasks that are frequently skipped, delayed, or underestimated despite their outsized impact on vine health, fruit quality, and long-term vineyard performance.

Fritz focuses first on shoot thinning and explains why timing is everything. He walks through the economic and practical advantages of thinning early, including improved spray penetration, better airflow, easier hand harvesting, and even reduced pruning labor during dormancy.

He then explains why bloom and veraison sampling...

We are back with another solo episode! Fritz dives into the world of Reddit viticulture advice to separate helpful guidance from misleading recommendations. Using real vineyard and winemaking questions pulled from Reddit threads, Fritz evaluates the quality of the responses while adding his own professional perspective.

The episode covers a wide range of vineyard topics, but throughout it, Fritz highlights an important lesson for growers at every level: context matters. Many online answers contain kernels of truth, but successful vineyard management depends on site conditions, climate, soil, vine age, regional disease pressure, and long-term goals. He explains...

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are powerful tools that can dramatically influence vine performance, but they also come with complexity and risk. In this episode, Fritz welcomes back Dr. Matthew W. Fidelibus of UC Davis to explore how these compounds are used across table, raisin, and wine grape production.

Dr. Fidelibus explains that PGRs include both naturally occurring plant hormones and synthetic compounds that mimic hormonal effects. While they've long been foundational in table grape production, their use in winegrapes is far less common and more nuanced. The conversation highlights how sensitivity to timing, rate, and variety is...

Organic grape production is gaining momentum, but making the transition from conventional farming requires careful planning, patience, and a willingness to adapt. In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Rob Warren, owner and operator of Desert Willow Vineyard and Warren Farms in Seminole, Texas, to share his experience converting his vineyard to certified organic production.

Rob explains how his agricultural background in organic row crops gave him experience with organic systems long before he applied those principles to grape growing. As consumer demand began to shift toward more natural and sustainably produced wines, wineries started seeking...

In this final installment of the Vineyard Nutrition Essentials series, Fritz is joined by Dr. Jaclyn Fiola, Assistant Professor of Soil and Environmental Science at Delaware Valley University, to unpack the critical role magnesium plays in vineyard health and productivity. Building on prior discussions around potassium, the conversation explores how magnesium functions as a key macronutrient, particularly as the central component of chlorophyll and a driver of photosynthesis and energy transfer in grapevines.

Dr. Fiola explains that magnesium primarily originates from soil minerals, especially in darker, magnesium-rich parent materials, and that soil characteristics such as pH, texture...

Phosphorus may not grab attention like nitrogen or potassium, but it plays a foundational role in vine growth, fruit set, and overall vineyard performance. In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Dr. Terry Bates, Senior Research Associate at Cornell University and Director of the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab for Cornell AgriTech, for a deep dive into phosphorus fundamentals.

Drawing on decades of research in plant nutrition and root biology, Dr. Bates explains what phosphorus is, where it comes from, and why it is essential for grapevines at the cellular level. From its role...

In this first installment of a three-part vineyard nutrition series, Dr. Markus Keller joins us to break down one of the most influential nutrients in vineyard management: nitrogen. We explore from the ground up.

Dr. Keller explains what nitrogen is, where it comes from in vineyard soils, and why it plays such a critical role in vine growth, fruit set, and overall vine performance. While nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere, vines rely on soil processes to convert it into plant-available forms like nitrate.

Dr. Keller details how nitrogen influences vigor, canopy density, fruit set...

How many incredible grape varieties are hiding in plain sight — simply because they don't fit the modern wine script? We dig into that question in this episode with Jenny and Scott Schultz of Sonoma's Jolie-Laide Wines, a winery built around chasing the unfamiliar and turning "pretty ugly" grapes into seriously compelling wines.

We trace how Jenny and Scott's very different paths collided into a shared philosophy: start with great farming, intervene as little as possible, and let each site and vintage tell its own story. For vineyard owners and operators, the conversation opens up a practical discussion ab...

Some of the world's most valuable vineyard lessons are rooted in vines that predate modern viticulture. In this conversation, we are joined by Dr. Laura Catena to explore Argentina's remarkable legacy of old, ungrafted vines and what they reveal about vine genetics, site expression, and long-term resilience.

Drawing on her experience, Dr. Catena explains why phylloxera never devastated many Argentine vineyards and how this unique history allowed ancient vine material to survive. The discussion dives into massale selection from old vines, highlighting why genetic diversity matters — especially as vineyard owners contend with climate stress, disease pressure, and th...

Planting a vineyard is a major investment, and the decisions made before the first vine goes into the ground can determine long-term success or costly failure. In this episode, Fritz sits down with renowned viticulture expert Dr. Mark Greenspan to unpack the most common red flags vineyard owners and operators should watch for when planning a new planting.

Drawing on more than three decades of scientific research and hands-on field experience, Dr. Greenspan explains why many vineyard problems originate long before planting day. Fritz and Dr. Greenspan also discuss the dangers of relying on assumptions or neighboring...

Pruning is one of the most influential decisions vineyard owners and operators make each season, and in this solo Q&A episode, Fritz tackles the most common — and most misunderstood — questions he hears in the field. Drawing on hands-on experience, Fritz walks listeners through the practical realities of dormant pruning, why it matters far beyond vine appearance, and how pruning choices directly impact vine balance, yield, and long-term vineyard health.

Throughout the episode, Fritz addresses real-world concerns from growers, including how aggressive pruning should be, what mistakes show up most often in young versus mature vineyards, and how...

A topic that many growers consider but few understand is mothballing a vineyard. In this episode, Fritz covers it all with Dr. Christopher Chen, Integrated Vineyard Systems Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension. With economic pressures, market shifts, and operational challenges affecting vineyard owners across the industry, temporarily idling a vineyard can feel like a practical option — but it comes with important agronomic, legal, and financial considerations.

Dr. Chen brings a research-based, boots-on-the-ground perspective to the conversation, helping listeners understand what "mothballing" actually means in a vineyard context. Rather than a simple shutdown, he explains th...

Growers are turning to AI for vineyard advice — but what happens when the algorithms get it wrong? In this episode, Fritz sits down with Texas A&M Extension Viticulture Specialist Dr. Justin Scheiner to put artificial intelligence to the test and reveal where it helps…and where it falls flat.

Fritz and Justin walk through real vineyard questions — on pruning cuts, choosing between cane and spur pruning, designing an effective spray program, and diagnosing puzzling leaf symptoms — then grade the answers provided by AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.

Justin explains why, despite its convenience, AI can't...

Fritz welcomes longtime colleague and respected viticulture authority Larry Bettiga in this episode for an in-depth look at the evolution of Monterey County's wine industry. With more than four decades of experience, Larry offers a rare, firsthand perspective on how the region transformed from scattered early vineyards into one of the country's most significant cool-climate grape-growing areas.

Larry explains how Monterey's dramatic coastal influence, daily wind patterns, and diverse soils shaped both the opportunities and challenges for growers. He and Fritz unpack the early years of vineyard expansion, including the misalignment of some varieties with climate conditions...

Voles, gophers, and ground squirrels are more than a nuisance — they can devastate vineyards if left unchecked. In this episode, host Fritz Westover sits down with Kelly Mulville of Paicines Ranch and Newt Wimer, an agricultural innovator, to discuss practical, sustainable ways to manage these vertebrate pests.

Kelly shares his firsthand experience with a sudden vole outbreak at Paicines Ranch — one of the worst he's ever seen — and explains how quickly the damage escalated. He walks through the telltale signs of vole damage, how girdling kills vines, and why population cycles and rainfall patterns play a role in out...

In this episode, Fritz sits down with Callil Capuozzo, the founder and owner of Overhead Vineyards in coastal Rhode Island. Callil shares his unique journey from industrial designer to vineyard owner and walks through the challenges of starting a vineyard on existing farmland.

The conversation explores the critical early decisions in vineyard development — from soil sampling and drainage considerations to choosing trellis systems that suit humid, fog-prone climates. Callil's experiment with a pergola-style trellis, inspired by traditional Albarino vineyards in Rías Baixas, Spain, sparks a deeper discussion on airflow, spray coverage, disease pressure, and long-term scalability.

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Dustin Hooper, Vice President of Sales at Sunridge Nurseries, to take listeners behind the scenes of how grapevines are made. While growers see the final product when vines arrive at their vineyard, there's a fascinating process that begins long before planting — starting with certified mother vines and continuing through propagation, grafting, greenhouse production, and certification.

Dustin shares his personal journey into the nursery business and offers an insider's perspective on the complexities of producing clean, reliable vines for commercial vineyards. Together, Fritz and Dustin explore the differences between own-rooted ve...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz continues his conversation with winemaker and Inside Winemaking podcast host Jim Duane on what it takes for grape growers to successfully step into winemaking. Following part one, which covered equipment, compliance, and basic chemistry, part two dives deeper into the realities of balancing vineyard management with winery responsibilities.

Fritz and Jim explore how harvest decisions shift when you're making wine from your own fruit, weighing risks like weather and pests against the pursuit of higher quality. Jim shares how winemakers must rethink priorities, and they also break down which lab...

Many vineyard owners eventually consider moving beyond grape growing into winemaking, whether to create a new revenue stream, take control of their fruit, or explore a more creative outlet. In this episode, we welcome winemaker and podcaster Jim Duane of Seavey Vineyard and the Inside Winemaking podcast for the first part of a two-part discussion on how growers can make this transition successfully.

The conversation discusses the mindset, skills, and resources needed to move from vineyard to cellar. Jim shares why a formal chemistry degree isn't required to produce quality wine, how growers can build confidence in...

In this episode, Fritz walks through the full planning process for a brand-new vineyard alongside guest Matthieu Wheeler. Matthieu, the winemaker at Cassidy Hill Vineyard in Connecticut and founder of Wheeler Winery, is preparing to establish his own vineyard on a newly purchased property. With Fritz's guidance, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into selecting vineyard sites, designing blocks, and preparing the land for long-term success.

Fritz and Matthieu cover vineyard economics, including the realistic costs of establishing and maintaining vines, equipment investments, and the role of sweat equity. They also explore soil testing, nutrient...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Adam Huss — host of the Beyond Organic Wine podcast, winemaker at Centralas Wine, and creator of the Crenshaw Cru Wine Garden in South Los Angeles. Adam shares his unconventional path into winemaking, beginning with a career in the nonprofit sector before launching a winery focused on ecological and community-driven practices.

The conversation explores Adam's philosophy of going "beyond organic" to embrace an ecological approach to winegrowing — one that avoids getting boxed into industry buzzwords and instead focuses on the interconnectedness of soil, plants, people, and place. He discusses his work...

In this episode, we welcome Hilary Graves, Vineyard and Grower Relations Manager at Booker Wines, to discuss how she successfully transitioned an Organic vineyard to regenerative organic certification. With over 20 years of field experience on California's Central Coast, Hilary brings practical strategies and candid stories about what it really takes to move beyond standard organic practices.

Hilary explains the core pillars of regenerative organic certification — soil health, social fairness, and animal welfare — and why she and the team at Booker Wines chose to pursue this path. She walks listeners through how integrating multi-species cover crops, implementing low-till and...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, we welcome Dr. Belinda Kemp, viticulture and enology researcher at NIAB in East Malling, England, to explore the evolving wine industry in the UK. With a background in theatrical arts and a PhD in Pinot Noir, Dr. Kemp brings a dynamic perspective to the scientific and practical aspects of cool climate viticulture.

The conversation covers England's emerging reputation for sparkling wine, the impact of climate variability on grape production, and the country's increasing focus on sustainability and innovation. Dr. Kemp discusses the shift from traditional varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Dr. R. Paul Schreiner, recently retired research plant physiologist from the USDA, for a deep dive into the fascinating world of mycorrhizal fungi and their impact on vineyard health. With over two decades of research experience in grapevine physiology and root biology, Dr. Schreiner shares the critical roles these fungi play in nutrient uptake, root efficiency, drought tolerance, and overall soil structure.

Fritz and Dr. Schreiner explore what arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are, how they form symbiotic relationships with grapevine roots, and why grapes are considered "super hosts." They...

In this solo episode, we take a deep dive into the many variables that influence young vine training in different climates. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how climate, trellis selection, rootstock vigor, and regional weather risks shape vine training strategies. Fritz explains how cold-climate growers often rely on double trunks or "spare parts viticulture" to prepare for winter damage, while warmer-climate vineyards may benefit from fast-tracking techniques like green topping and one-shoot training for quicker vineyard establishment.

We walk through scenarios where single-trunk systems are ideal, when to consider double trunks, and how the practice...

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes soil scientist Dr. Jaclyn Fiola for an in-depth discussion on one of viticulture's most misunderstood nutrients — potassium. Drawing from her recent research and extensive fieldwork across the Mid-Atlantic region, Jaclyn breaks down how potassium behaves differently from other macronutrients, where it originates in the soil, and what makes its availability so complex for grape growers.

Fritz and Jaclyn explore why vineyards in the Eastern U.S. often see discrepancies between soil and tissue potassium levels and how that can impact grape quality, vine health, and ultimately wine pH. They di...