Micronutrients: you should sweat the small stuff
When it comes to micronutrients, good things come in small quantities By Mark Greenspan The following article first appeared in Wine Business Monthly in June, 2014. Read the original article here. When it comes to vine nutrition, most of us think about the N-P-K we’re putting out. That makes sense, because each and every year […]
Is Regenerative the New Biodynamic?
Is Regenerative the new Biodynamic? Is this just another buzzword or is there meat on those bones? By Mark Greenspan and Loni Lyttle The following is reprinted from Wine Business Monthly’s July 2021 Issue. Read the original article here. The wine industry is particularly susceptible to buzzwords. Terms like “terroir” and “minerality” may be nebulous, […]
Ask a viticulturist: Why is my yield so low? Timely canopy management matters.
Ask a Viticulturist: Why is my yield so low? Timely canopy management matters We were recently contacted by a grower distraught over his consistently low yield. This is a producer in the Russian River AVA of Sonoma County who grows exclusively Pinot noir. Yield-quantity is a funny thing for producers of quality grapes destined for […]
Planting a vineyard? Not so fast.
Planting a vineyard? Not so fast. Careful planning of a vineyard is essential to its success. Don’t take shortcuts. By Mark Greenspan The following is reprinted from the June 2018 issue of Wine Business Monthly As a vineyard consultant and vineyard management service provider, I can’t tell you how many people come to us and […]
Fear not! Potassium is your friend
Fear not! Potassium is your friend Holding off on K fertilization may be damaging your wine quality There’s a lot of headbutting between grape growers and winemakers. I get why. Lush green canopies with active shoot tips mid-July look pretty, but they don’t usually make good wine. On the other hand, leaner vines with drastically […]
Baby, it’s dry outside: an update on the drought and what it means for vineyards
Baby, it’s dry outside Here’s what we’ve seen so far… If you haven’t noticed, California is in a bit of a dry spot right now. Here in Windsor, middle of Sonoma County, this winter yielded a whopping 9.7 inches and the vintage is showing it in some surprising ways. We’ve written about the impending drought […]
Ask a viticulturist: How do I manage my Red-Blotch-infested vineyard?
Ask a viticulturist: How do I manage my Red-Blotch-infested vineyard? I have a vineyard with a fair amount of Red Blotch in it. It’s not enough to justify pulling the whole vineyard. Can I manage those vines differently so that I get a quality crop in the meantime? Thanks for reaching out! In response to […]
What, when, where, why: Fertilizer applications throughout the season
A Season of Nutrition How to fertilize your vines for maximum quality The following was originally published in Wine Business Monthly in February 2019. Management of vineyard nutrition is not an exact science, but nutrient/fertilizer management is not something that should be handled generically either. It’s quite easy to approach fertilization with off-the-shelf blends that […]
