Wildfires blackened nearly 8.8 million acres in the United States last year, highlighted in the news by California’s Camp Fire, the deadliest in that state’s history. One of the many things that make wildfires so difficult to contain is the effect a fire has on local winds, which can move the fire in unexpected directions with virtually no notice. But, …

Kristen Barnhisel, winemaker for white wines at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, has been named 2019-2020 president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV). She succeeds John Thorngate, vice president of operations technical services at Constellation Brands. In her new role, Barnhisel will lead ASEV’s 12-member board.  “I am pleased to serve with leaders in viticulture and enology …

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (July 2, 2019)– As Sonoma County Winegrape Growers close in on its goal of reaching 100% sustainability this year, there is an awful lot to celebrate. Foremost, despite record rainfall amounts, early reports indicate the fruit set was good throughout Sonoma County though harvest will be running two to three weeks later than last year. Next, Sonoma …

The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) requested state support for critical wine and viticulture research during today’s joint hearing of the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry and the Assembly Select Committee on Wine. The hearing – titled “Cultivating the Next Generation of Wine Industry Leaders and Emerging Markets in California” – covered the state of wine education and research, as well as emerging …

As the farm labor force in California continues to shrink and costs continue to climb, growers have been compelled to mechanize much of their farming tasks.  Harvesting is one of the most labor-intensive tasks for California raisin growers, and fortunately, mechanical harvesting is an option for them.  The technology has been around for quite some time now; however, some growers …

SACRAMENTO, June 4, 2019 – California Association of Wine grape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre has issued the following statement: “In November 2018, in the wake of wildfires that devastated a number of California communities and prevented many growers from selling their 2018 wine grape crop, the California Association of Wine grape Growers (CAWG) and other California grower organizations asked …

SACRAMENTO, June 4, 2019 – The House Appropriations Committee on June 4 approved a bill that includes $1.5 million in research funding to address issues related to smoke exposed wine grapes. The committee approved the fiscal year 2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill on a 29 to 21 vote. “We appreciate the committee’s decision …

  As California faces more frequent and severe droughts, agriculture, which relies on irrigation from surface water and groundwater, could become expensive and unsustainable. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, looked at using a “free” resource — rain water stored in the soil — and found that optimizing its use could go a long way to help meet demand …