327: The Feedback Loop Behind Better Wine | Sustainable Story

Healthy soils are built through years of management decisions and sometimes rethinking old practices. Jim Lincoln, General Manager of Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa Valley, shares how his approach to weed management has evolved from cultivation and herbicides to mowing, sheep grazing, cover crops, and no-till practices. Learn how these changes have improved under-vine soil health, influenced weed populations, and affected costs. Jim discusses the real-world tradeoffs of building soil health and the opportunities it creates to improve fruit quality.  Resources:   128: A New Focus on Weed Management (Rebroadcast) 229: Weed Control in Vineyards Beckstoffer Vineyards Jim Lincoln Named Senior Vineyard and Environmental Sustainability Manager of Beckstoffer Vineyards University of California Integrated Pest Management Integrated Weed Management  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

Growers rarely taste the wine made from their grapes. At Hope Family Wines, Stasi Seay uses annual tastings to help them connect their farming decisions to what's in the glass.  Resources:  Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course   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 

Microbats are tiny natural predators with a big appetite for insects, but the uniform structure of a vineyard can keep them from venturing far into the block. Matt Fowles, Owner and CEO of Fowles Wine, noticed that vineyard blocks near trees had less moth pressure than those bordered by open grassland. He shares how that observation inspired a system of vertical structures designed to give microbats echolocation points and encourage them to move deeper into the vineyard. Early trials show increased bat activity and promising potential for natural pest control in vineyards.  Resources:   272: 30 Gophers a Night: Why Barn Owls Belong in Your Vineyard 306: Using Barn Owls for Gopher and Rodent Control in Vineyards Bat Navs: A project by Fowles – Series Trailer  Fowles Wine Activates $500K Grant to Go Into Bat for Aussie Viticulture, Safeguarding Against Costly Pests Matt Fowles - Fowles Wines - a cool-climate wine producer Microbats (little bats)  Microbat | Wikipedia The bats safeguarding against pests in vineyards What are 5 species of microbats?  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 

Social media keeps changing, but wineries can stay relevant with a focused strategy. Heather Daenitz (Craft & Cluster) shares practical advice on Instagram Stories, audience engagement, searchable content, authentic video, and content series that help wineries connect with wine consumers.  Resources:  Apply for SIP Certified Wine Join the SIP Certified Wine Finder (Members Only) Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course   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 

Why we like wine has less to do with our taste buds than you might think. Zata Vickers, professor of Food Science and Nutrition and director of the Sensory Center at the University of Minnesota, explains the science behind why we like what we like. Learn how repeated exposure, positive social experiences, and even the words used to describe wine influence our preferences. Along the way, she shares surprising insights into what babies' reactions can teach us about taste and why food preferences are learned more often than they're born.  Resources:   257: Understanding Winery Visitors – Increase Sales with your Messaging 309: Create Memorable Winery Experiences That Drive Sales | Marketing Tip Monday  Food Science Seminar Zata Vickers Zata Vickers | Google Scholar Zata Vickers | LinkedIn  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

Mesa Vineyard Management teamed up with Cal Poly to track barn owls and understand where they hunt in an effort to help growers strengthen natural pest control in vineyards. Resources:  Apply for SIP Certified Wine Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course   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 

Biological control is emerging as one of the most promising tools against spotted lanternfly. Anne Johnson, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, explains how spotted lanternfly damages grapevines by draining plant sap and producing honeydew that fuels sooty mold. She shares new research showing that North American predators, including spiders, praying mantises, and birds, are already helping keep this invasive pest in check. Learn which biological control strategies show the most promise, why removing tree of heaven matters, and how community science is accelerating discoveries for sustainable spotted lanternfly management.   Resources:   96: Spotted Lanternfly - Threat to California  175: How to Prepare for Invasive Pests in Your Vineyard 289: How Spotted Lanternfly Puts Grapes at Risk—and What Growers Can Do Allies Against an Invasive: Interactions Between Spotted Lanternflies and Native Species (Seminar) Anne Johnson | Google Scholar Anne Johnson | Michigan State University  Birds Biting Bad Bugs | Facebook  Natural insect predators may serve as allies in spotted lanternfly battle Predation of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) by generalist arthropod predators in North America Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide Spotted lanternfly may use 'toxic shield' to fend off bir predators  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 

Boost your social media marketing without creating more content. Discover four simple strategies to improve SEO, help the right audience find your posts, increase saves and shares, build authentic connections, and repurpose content to maximize your reach.  Resources:  Apply for SIP Certified Wine Join the SIP Certified Wine Finder (Members Only) Marketing Tips eNewsletter Real Stories, Real Impact SIP Certified Marketing Toolkit Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course   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

Choosing the right grapevine rootstock can improve drought resilience without sacrificing yield. Patty Skinkis, Viticulture Extension Specialist and Professor in the Horticulture Department at Oregon State University, shares findings from long-term Oregon rootstock trial comparing mature and young vineyards. Learn which rootstocks produced larger canopies and higher yields with less water stress, why traditional low-vigor choices may struggle in no-till systems, and how this research is shaping an updated guide to help growers select rootstocks for climate resilience, vineyard establishment, and future production.   Resources:   281: How Rootstock Impacts Vine Drought Tolerance and Longevity  Evaluating Drought-Tolerant Rootstocks in Cool Climate Wine Grapes for Climate Change Resilience Patricia Skinkis | Google Scholar Patricia Skinkis | Instagram Patricia Skinkis | LinkedIn Patricia Skinkis | Oregon State University Patricia Skinkis | Research Gate Rootstock drought tolerance under dry-farmed conditions in Oregon's Willamette Valley Rootstock effects on mature Pinot noir growth and productivity under cool climate, dry farmed conditions  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 Santa Barbara's Foxen Canyon area is known for its natural beauty, reliable cell service is not one of its amenities. Read More.