We extend our commitment to innovation beyond the nursery and into the field using real-time data, AI scouting, and precision water management to support long-term vineyard success.

Here’s how we’re integrating technology into our field operations:

AI-Powered Scouting

Tellia

Tellia is a voice-driven observation platform that captures and organizes field data instantly. Observations are securely stored and fully searchable. Need to know where a specific weed or issue was identified? Simply ask, and Tellia retrieves every relevant entry complete with location, timestamp, and notes. It transforms scouting from note-taking into actionable intelligence.

Precision Irrigation

Hortau

Using soil tension probes and automated irrigation programming, the Hortau system allows us to irrigate based on real-time soil moisture data. This ensures optimal crop health while significantly improving water-use efficiency.

Aerial Technology

Drones and Imaging

These tools allow us to detect variability early, respond faster, and make informed management decisions. This results in stronger vines, smarter use of resources and better vineyard outcomes.

• Spray drones for targeted, efficient applications
• Thermal imaging to identify plant stress before it’s visible
• Multispectral imaging for accurate field estimates and crop assessment

At Sunridge Nurseries, we don’t believe technology replaces experience but simply enhances it. As you plan your next planting or assess your vineyard strategy, partner with us to discover how Sunridge seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology with seasoned, hands-on expertise.

At Sunridge Nurseries, innovation isn’t a buzzword, it’s built into every step of our production process. We’ve intentionally partnered with industry-leading technology providers to ensure every vine we ship is grown with precision, consistency, and plant health as the priority.

Here’s how technology has elevated our nursery program:

Precision Fertigation
FLOREP / RiTech

Using the Nutritech system from RiTech, we fertigate with customized nutrient formulations based on crop type and growth stage. Each formula is pre-programmed and can be adjusted instantly, allowing us to deliver the exact nutrients our vines need at each stage from planting through shipping.  

Advanced Plant Health
SOBionics Hidroblue System

Our Hidroblue system produces hypochlorous acid (HClO), a non-toxic solution that keeps irrigation lines clean and significantly effective at preventing and treating fungal and bacterial plant diseases. Since implementing this system, we’ve seen over a 90% reduction in powdery mildew. Today, HClO is integrated into nearly every stage of our production and sanitation protocols. 

Biological Performance
Impello Biosciences

We partner with Impello Biosciences to incorporate science-backed biostimulants, microbial inoculants, and biofertilizers into our growing program. Products like Dune, Komens, and Continuum support root development, plant vigor, and long-term resilience.

Environmental Monitoring
Wadsworth Greenhouse Control Systems

Our advanced, automated greenhouse control system allows us to control climate, curtain systems and venting entirely with a simple mobile app.  Temperature and humidity are continuously monitored to ensure optimal vine growth conditions in our greenhouses. Real-time alerts allow us to respond immediately, protecting plant quality and consistency.

Custom Soil Mixing & Potting Automation
Hort Equipment

Our programmable soil mixing system allows us to tailor substrate blends with precise nutrients and beneficial organisms. Components are blended prior to pot filling to ensure uniformity across every planted vine.

Innovation at the nursery level means healthier vines, improved uniformity, and greater long-term vineyard performance. In our next email, we’ll share how technology continues in the field where data, AI, and precision irrigation guide our decision-making.

Sunridge Nurseries is proud to share the exciting news that our laboratory has recently achieved ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation in Biological Testing through A2LA. A2LA is the largest and most widely recognized accrediting body for testing laboratories in the United States, and this certificate represents a significant milestone for our organization. 

Sunridge Nurseries’ state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with the latest testing technologies and operates under rigorous quality management standards to provide our partners with even greater confidence in the quality and integrity of every vine we produce. Our advanced diagnostic capabilities include PCR, RT-PCR, and TaqMan testing methodologies to diagnose a range of plant diseases including viruses, fungi, and bacteria from various grapevine plant parts. Our accreditation also encompasses the testing of irrigation water, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to plant health and safety. 

For years, Sunridge Nurseries has led the industry with unmatched virus testing standards, and this new investment and accreditation further affirm our leadership and commitment to excellence. We continue to elevate industry expectations by implementing advanced methodologies and maintaining protocols that exceed current requirements.  

Sunridge is proud to be the only grapevine nursery in the industry equipped with a certified laboratory and holding such accreditation. This achievement reflects our long-term investment in innovation, quality, and most importantly the trust of our clients as we aim to provide an even higher level of assurance, service, and confidence in every vine we deliver.

Happy New Year from all of us at Sunridge Nurseries!

We are excited to share that our production season has officially begun. Your custom dormant bareroot orders are being dug, cutting harvest is in full swing, and grafting just began!

As we prepare orders for the upcoming planting season, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your sales representative about availability from our spec list for any planting needs this coming spring. We will always do what we can to support your vineyard needs.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead and contributing to another successful growing season!

Explore the latest ENTAV varieties released featuring polygenic resistance. Each of the varieties carry two specific genes resistant to both powdery and downy mildew. These innovative varietals not only enhance resilience against various challenges but also promise improved yields. For order inquiries or for more information, please contact your sales representative. 

Floreal

• vigorous variety
• moderate size berries
• aromatic, fresh with notes of exotic fruits and boxwood

Voltis 

• vigorous variety
• moderate size berries
• variety can be used for sparkling wines

Artaban

• average vigor
• moderate size berries
• light, silky, fruity notes
• intended for fast consumption

Vidoc 

• vigorous variety
• small berries
• powerful, robust, intense color wine with fruity and spicy notes

If you are interested in sampling any of these wines this winter, please contact your sales representative below.

Sunridge Nurseries' VP of Operations, Adam Lovgren, participated on behalf of the California Grape Rootstock Research Foundation as moderator for Session II: Innovations in Traditional Breeding at the recent NGRA/UC Davis Grapevine Improvement Workshop. 

The session highlighted advancements in climate-resilient rootstocks, improved fruit and cultivar quality, resistance breeding, and the integration of modern genomic and phenomic tools, with presentations from Dr. Luis Diaz-Garcia, Dr. Margaret Worthington, Professor Dr. Oliver Trapp, and Dr. Maddy Oravec.

The full conference offered valuable insights into how the future of grapevine breeding and genomics can expand varietal options for growers, helping address evolving challenges in disease and pest resistance, climate impacts, and the development of improved cultivars.

Meet Pedro Trigueros! Sunridge Nurseries' very first intern. 

This year, Sunridge launched an exciting opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in a commercial nursery environment through our summer Horticulture Internship program. This initiative was designed to provide comprehensive knowledge of all stages of plant growth, emphasizing essential aspects such as nutrient management, lighting, and pest control, all vital for cultivating thriving plants.

Under the expert mentorship of Horticulturist and Agronomist, Linsi Luckett, the program offered Pedro the chance to engage in a variety of responsibilities and enrich his learning experience by mastering irrigation techniques, assisting with plant applications, monitoring plant growth, and engaging in essential testing procedures, just to name a few.

“Pedro has been an exceptional asset and is rapidly becoming an integral member of our Horticulture and Agronomy team,” stated Linsi Luckett. We are pleased to announce that his journey through the program culminated in an exciting milestone where Pedro has since accepted a permanent role as our Assistant Agronomist.

Pedro says, "I’m incredibly appreciative for the opportunity to build on what I've learned during my internship while taking on new challenges in this role. Sunridge has so many employees with incredible knowledge and years of experience in agriculture, and I feel very fortunate to work and learn alongside such a great group of people. The company’s strong leadership and positive culture make Sunridge an exceptional place to grow both personally and professionally."

Sunridge hopes to expand our internship program offerings in the future, recognizing the invaluable hands-on experience they provide to aspiring industry professionals. For updates on these exciting opportunities, please follow us on LinkedIn and visit our website.

Each summer, Sunridge Nurseries looks forward to participating in the various table grape field days organized by our esteemed breeding partners, Grapa Global™ and Bloom Fresh Global™.

These events serve as a celebration of innovation, where we explore the forefront of fruit cultivation through engaging vineyard tours, informative technical presentations, and exclusive fruit tastings.

The turnout is consistently impressive, with dedicated growers from around the globe coming together to exchange knowledge and experiences. These events are opportunities to reflect on our commitment to nurturing a global community within the viticulture industry.

We take great pride in our involvement in these field days, as we not only share our expertise but also support growers seeking reliable, long-term partnerships to source the most sought-after varieties.

This past July and August, Table Grapes' Vice President of Sales, Dustin Hooper, attended each of the ARRA Field Days, Global Open Days, concluding the weeks of events at the Divine Flavor Grower Summit in Bakersfield, California, an event we were honored to sponsor.

Following the summit, Dustin extended an invitation to growers for a private tour of our state-of-the-art facility, where we demonstrated the quality and dedication that go into crafting our exceptional grapevines.

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting growers from Mexico, Peru, South Africa, New Zealand, the Middle East, and other regions.

Sunridge Nurseries is the largest grapevine nursery in North America, distinguished by nearly 50 years of exceptional experience that has solidified our position as the industry leader.

Our profound expertise in grapevine cultivation has enabled us to adapt and evolve in response to the changing market dynamics. By prioritizing innovation and consistently seeking solutions to enhance quality, we have established ourselves as the most trusted partner for growers worldwide.

Mist propagation represents an innovative solution during periods when traditional hardwood cuttings may be limited, and is the most effective method for cultivating new rare varieties or special clones. Our nursery primarily utilizes this propagation technique when we receive new varieties from Foundation Plant Services (FPS), enabling us to establish a new mother block or expand existing ones. This method is also essential for maintaining the proper certification of the vines provided by FPS. This technique guarantees that vineyard owners receive exceptional genetic consistency with each vine produced, as every new vine is propagated from the same mother plant. With a single cutting, we can multiply the original vine to a quantity large enough to plant an entire vineyard.

The Process

Upon receiving the certified cutting from FPS, the cutting is first dipped in a growth hormone, and the edges of the leaves are trimmed to promote root development. This small cutting is then planted in perlite trays during the initial stage and misted every 5 minutes for approximately 2-3 weeks to maintain a constant state of hydration.

Once small roots begin to form, the cutting can be transferred into a pot filled with our custom soil mix.

After about one week, new leaves will emerge from the stem. Following an additional two weeks, the vine will develop several new stems and leaves. At this point, the pot can be moved to a standard irrigation system within the greenhouse to continue its growth. After roughly 6-8 weeks, the vine will have grown tall enough for us to then repeat this process with the newly grown leaves to exponentially increase the number of vines produced.

Our vines are then hardened off for outdoor growth in our insect-excluded screenhouses prior to delivery, ensuring they are resilient and ready to thrive even in challenging soil conditions.

Assyrtiko mist propagated vines planted one year ago at a CA vineyard

We invite our growers to explore these innovative techniques with us. Our team of experts are here to help and to provide the exceptional support and service our grower partners have come to rely on. With our expertise and commitment to quality, we stand dedicated to supporting your vineyard establishment journey, ensuring that your investment flourishes beautifully. 

Off-Season, On Point:
Essential Prep for Superior Grapevines

A new season is just around the corner! As we enter Fall, our off-season presents the opportunity for our nursery to reflect, recharge, and prepare for the coming year. To ensure a successful start, here are just a few of the essential preparations that take place when we aren’t producing vines. These measures are designed to ensure that we are fully equipped for the new season and to maintain our commitment to providing the healthiest vines for our partners. 

Farming

Virus Sampling We test over 120k vines each year to ensure Sunridge vines have well over a 99% statistical confidence of being virus free. No other nursery comes close to this level of testing.

Dropping Fruit By removing the vine clusters from our scion mother blocks, and channeling all the vine’s energy into growth, we ensure the production of robust canes for optimal wood harvesting.

Replants & Increase Blocks In response to evolving industry trends and customer preferences, we evaluate our blocks season by season to ensure we possess the quantities and varietals necessary for fulfilling our customers’ demands.

Dormant Estimates Take rates are carefully monitored to guarantee fulfillment for both current and future seasonal orders, including the use of multispectral imaging to assess the viability of all planted dormants.

In the field, monitoring soil moisture as well as the moisture content in the canes help us determine our irrigation schedule for how much water the vines need to keep the roots hydrated and maintain moisture in the canes. For fertigation, our fertilizer formulation is carefully tailored for each part of the growing season to produce the best quality cuttings for grafting next season.

Trimming & Sorting Our teams maintain ongoing care of the vines currently housed in our nursery while facilitating their transition into the dormant season.

Routine Fertigation & Irrigation The irrigation schedule is based on developmental stage of vine, soil type, and temperature that provides the appropriate amount of water. Potted vines are carefully organized by dormancy timing and soil moisture is continually monitored to avoid root loss over the winter. For fertigation, the current formulation we are using encourages the vines to develop better roots to help keep the vines healthy through dormancy.

Preparation Review

Production teams are actively brainstorming innovative strategies to enhance automation and optimize process workflows. Our operations team managers meet weekly to discuss ongoing initiatives and plans to continue to improve our operational success.

This year, we are exploring how to better facilitate the recent innovations in AI technology to assist with: field scouting, dormant and cutting estimates, production planning and order management. We are excited to see what these new tools will do to help us improve our plant quality and customer service.