September 2003

Sustainable viticulture information now online

DAVIS--Increased demand for sustainable and organic grapes and more stringent environmental regulations are prompting grape growers to seek information in many quarters. Now they can access recent presentations from the "Science of Sustainable Viticulture," a special all-day session at the June 2003 American Society of Enology and Viticulture's (ASEV) annual meeting in Reno, Nev. Seventeen presentations, ranging from the influence of sustainable practices on wine quality to vineyard habitat management and energy efficiency, are available in PowerPoint format.

"We are pleased that growers, consultants and fellow researchers can access these very current presentations right on their computers," said Jenny Broome, associate director of the UC Davis-based statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP). Broome's presentation on worldwide sustainable viticulture programs and research is available online.

Other presentations available include an overview of sustainable agriculture by Charles Francis of the University of Nebraska, integrated pest and vineyard management for insect pests by Kent Daane of the UC Berkeley's Center for Biological Control, viticulture weed management by Chris Penfold of the University of Adelaide, healthy soils by John Reganold of Washington State, and grape breeding for sustainable viticulture by Andrew Walker of UC Davis.

Cliff Ohmart, director of IPM/research at the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, chaired a panel of practioners and program coordinators in a session on applications in the vineyard and winery; his presentation is available online, as is a presentation on a grower group's sustainable viticulture system by Kris O'Conner, director of the Central Coast Vineyard Team. Organic wine production and quality is the focus of a talked posted online by John Williams of Frog's Leap Winery in Rutherford. Mendocino and Lake counties UC Cooperative Extension viticulture advisor Glenn McGourty's presentation on vineyard water quality planning and laws is available, as is the presentation on growing organic winegrapes sustainably by Ann Thrupp of Fetzer Vineyard in Hopland.

Research presentations on vineyard floor management, cover crops, fertilizer, birds and vinyard canopy development presentations are also available on the SAREP Web site at http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/production/viticulture/asev2003.htm

Deborah Golino, director of UC Davis Foundation Plant Services and a committee of other academics and practioners organized the special session. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (the sciences of winemaking and grape growing) is a nonprofit, international scientific society that includes professionals from wineries, vineyards, academic institutions and organizations. It was organized in 1950 by UC researchers and California winemakers.

Media Contacts:
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664, lhalprin@ucdavis.edu

Return to 2003 News Releases