Join Vineyard Team and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for a half-day Industry Update bringing together growers, experts, and advocates for a timely pulse check on grape markets, grower resources, and state-level developments shaping our region in 2026.

This ticketed* event includes lunch and will feature:

• Grape Market Update & Industry Outlook – A look at current bulk wine and grape market trends, supply and demand dynamics, and what they mean for your business decisions this season.
• Grants & Funding Opportunities Panel – Moderated by an experienced grower, this conversation brings together funding and program specialists who work directly with agricultural grants and cost-share programs. Learn what opportunities are available, how to position your operation for success, and what makes a strong application.
• Policy & Advocacy Update – Michael Miiller of the California Association of Winegrape Growers shares key statewide developments and policy priorities impacting vineyards today.

Whether you're navigating market shifts or looking to leverage new resources, this event will provide practical insights and meaningful connections.

REGISTER

 *Vineyard Team and PRWCA members: check your email for your discount code or contact hayli@vineyardteam.org.

Presented by:

Photo credit: Likely Story Strategies // Craft & Cluster

Building healthy soils is key to resilient vineyards—but how do you measure success, and which practices truly move the needle?

Join us for an in-field discussion exploring soil health from multiple angles, starting with three presentations:

Jenny Garley (Bio SI) will share insights on using sap sugar levels as a practical indicator of plant and soil health, highlighting how increased microbial activity (especially fungi) can boost photosynthesis and overall vineyard performance.

Dr. Stewart Wilson (Cal Poly) will provide a soil science perspective, grounding the conversation in the latest research and field applications.

Mike Costello (Oakville Bluegrass) will outline current funding and grant opportunities available to growers, with a focus on cover crops and soil-building practices.

We’ll then transition to a grower panel led by host Bob Tillman, sharing real-world experience implementing regenerative practices.

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Tour Condor’s Hope Vineyard in the Cuyama Valley and see how a dry-farmed vineyard can succeed in an arid landscape. Steve Gliessman will share insights on vineyard design, rootstock selection, and establishment practices that help set vines up for long-term resilience.

Learn how soil cultivation techniques can maximize storage of limited rainfall, along with other farming practices tailored to this unique site.

Transportation is provided. Please select the carpool transportation option when registering if you plan to ride with the group.

Itinerary:

8:00-9:00 am - Pick up at Santa Maria Speedway
9:00-11:00 am - Tour at Condor's Hope Vineyard
11:00 am-12:00 pm - Drop off at Santa Maria Speedway

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Pick up location for carpool transportation:

Santa Maria Speedway, 1900 Hutton Rd, Nipomo, CA 93444

This meeting is funded by the Department of Water Resources and is a collaboration between CSWA and CAFF.

Wednesday, April 8 | 9-11 am | Soledad

Mothballing a vineyard is a strategic decision to reduce costs during times of low grape demand or market uncertainty, while preserving long-term vineyard health and potential. This roundtable invites growers to share their experiences with mothballing—why they chose this route, what they hope to achieve, and what practices are (or aren’t) working.

We’ll discuss the financial impacts, lessons learned, and when mothballing might no longer be necessary. Whether you’re considering this approach or already navigating it, join us for an open, practical discussion with your peers. 

 REGISTER

Morning fuel sponsored by:

SIP Certified is stepping into 2026 with a refreshed brand and redesigned website aimed at making sustainably produced wines easier for consumers to recognize and find.

The updated visual identity and digital experience strengthen the connection between certified winegrowers and today’s sustainability-minded wine buyers—while maintaining the independent, science-based standards that have defined the program for decades.

Research shows that 64% of consumers rank environmental sustainability as a top buying factor. As interest in responsible farming and “better-for-you” products continues to grow, wine buyers are paying closer attention to how their wine is produced.

“Buyers are looking more closely at how their wine is grown and produced,” said Beth Vukmanic, Executive Director of Vineyard Team, the parent organization of SIP Certified.
“SIP Certified has always represented accountability and science-backed standards. This update ensures that commitment is clear and recognizable.”

Research-Informed Evolution

To guide the update, SIP Certified partnered with Likely Story Strategies to better understand how wine buyers evaluate sustainability claims.

The research highlighted three key drivers influencing purchasing decisions:

• Consumers want to know the story behind the bottle
• Independent certification builds trust, especially in digital environments
• Environmentally responsible wines stand out in a crowded marketplace

The refreshed identity responds with clearer messaging, updated visuals, and a streamlined digital experience built for how consumers discover and research wine today.

The New SIPCertified.org — Now Live

The redesigned SIPCertified.org brings together brand discovery, education, and program resources in one central hub for both wine drinkers and industry professionals.

New features include:

• Wine Finder — Locate SIP Certified wines by region or brand
• Real Sustainable Stories — Meet the growers and winemakers behind the seal
• Impact Statistics — See measurable outcomes of certified practices
• Certification Information — Resources for vineyards and wineries exploring certification

Same Standards. Stronger Presence.

While the look has evolved, SIP Certified’s foundation remains unchanged. The program continues to verify environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability through independent evaluation aligned with current science and industry innovation.

With its refreshed identity and website now live, SIP Certified reinforces its role as a leading benchmark for sustainable winegrowing—helping consumers quickly identify wines produced with care for people and the planet.

Explore the new site: SIPCertified.org

When we launched the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast in 2016, we weren’t sure where it would go. Now, 300 episodes later, it’s become a go-to resource for growers, researchers, educators, and wine industry professionals dedicated to sustainability.

To mark this milestone, we flipped the mic around and interviewed our host, Craig Macmillan, PhD — long-time vineyard and winery professional, educator, and now podcasting veteran — to reflect on some favorite episodes, meaningful moments, and what’s ahead.

From Zoom Recordings to Global Reach

Craig began hosting when the podcast was just an idea sparked by the Vineyard Team’s goal to make sustainable winegrowing knowledge more accessible.

“I wasn't a podcast listener at all,” Craig admits. “But I said sure, why not? Let's try it.”

Since then, the show has featured scientists, growers, and innovators from all over the world, creating a ripple effect of conversations and connections. As Craig puts it:

“Those loops are starting to close — a guest recommends another guest, and we build a network of people doing really exciting work.”

Real Conversations, Lasting Impact

One of the podcast’s most rewarding surprises? Learning that some of the wine industry’s top minds (researchers from NASA, Cornell, and beyond) are listeners themselves!

“It really makes you feel like we're succeeding. That we're getting to the right audience,” Craig says.

From major research institutions to vineyard boots-on-the-ground, the podcast bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and real-world application.

Memorable Episodes and Personal Connections

Craig shared several standout moments over the years:

• NASA Acres & Remote Sensing with Alyssa Whitcraft — A reconnection with an old winemaking colleague’s daughter, now leading groundbreaking satellite work at NASA.

• Sour Rot with Megan Hall — One of the show’s first guests, a grad student at the time, now an industry leader and committee collaborator.

• Succession Planning with Erin Hoffman — An eye-opening dive into farm business continuity and generational transitions.

• To Till or Not to Till with Taylor Jones — A grower-led episode that became one of the most popular of 2025.

• Electric Trucks with Duff Bevill — Challenging assumptions about what's possible in vineyard sustainability.

Research, Relevance & Storytelling

Listeners love how each episode ties practical farming to broader sustainability goals. In fact, research discussed on the show inspired SIP Certified’s own storytelling training for tasting rooms, encouraging wineries to share the why behind their practices.

“People are willing to pay more for sustainable wine if they understand what that means. Not in the broad sense — in the specific,” Craig notes.

What’s Next for the Podcast?

Looking ahead to the next 300 episodes, Craig has a few goals:

• Revisit early guests to see how their research and projects evolved.

• Feature more grower voices and boots-on-the-ground innovation.

• Explore emerging technologies like robotics, AI, and variable-rate spraying informed by satellite data.

And above all, keep asking good questions.

“You never know what you're going to learn. Sometimes it’s abstract, sometimes it’s incredibly practical — but it’s always valuable.”

Thank You, Listeners!

Whether you’re a long-time subscriber or new to the series, thank you for tuning in and being part of this journey.

If you’ve learned something helpful, or just enjoyed the conversations, share the podcast with a colleague or grower friend. Your support helps us continue bringing expert voices and ideas to the field.

>>> Catch the 300th episode and more at: vineyardteam.org/podcast

Here’s to the next 300!

Make sure your staff knows their college and trade school-bound students are eligible to apply for the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship.

This community-funded program helps college students achieve their dreams. Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must be employed or contracted by the California vineyard and winery industry.

Easily share how to apply by posting the flyer and including the paycheck inserts (English and Spanish) next payroll. 

Applications are accepted from February 2 through March 31.

Meet Juan

The program is named in honor of Juan Nevarez, a beloved member of the Central Coast winegrape industry, whose kindness, expertise, and passion shaped many local vineyards. Nevarez spent a lifetime working every job he could gathering knowledge that eventually enabled him to start his own vineyard management company, Nevarez Farm Labor, and own his own eighty-acre vineyard. Although Juan struggled to read and write himself, he dreamed of higher education for his children.

Learn more about Juan.  

Presented by Vineyard Team, the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast continued to be a go‑to resource for vineyard and winery professionals, delivering timely, practical insights straight from researchers and growers shaping the future of sustainable viticulture. From hybrid grapes and soil health to AI‑driven climate strategies and market dynamics, last year’s five most listened‑to episodes offered information listeners can apply immediately in their operations. 

1. Beyond Foxy: The Case for Hybrid Winegrapes

Episode 274 | Listen now 
Forget everything you thought you knew about hybrid grapes. Adam Huss (Centralas Cellars) makes the case for these resilient, quality-driven varieties and why they’re gaining traction in a warming world. 

2. Fungicide Resistance in Powdery and Downy Mildew: 10 Years of Vineyard Research

Episode 278 | Listen now 
Ismail Ahmed Ismail (South Australian Research and Development Institute) unpacks a decade of data on fungicide resistance. Find out what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep your spray program effective. 

3. A Vineyard Research Site to Study Soil Health

Episode 262 | Listen now 
Healthy soils make better wine—and better business. Devin Rippner (USDA-ARS/Washington State University) explains how one long-term research site is changing the way we think about soil management. 

4. AI Finds New Grape Growing Regions as Climate Changes 

Episode 260 | Listen now 
Joel Harms (McGill University) takes us into the future with AI-powered models predicting where vineyards can thrive as the climate shifts. It’s a mind-bending look at what’s coming next. 

5. Winegrape Market Trends of 2024

Episode 259 | Listen now 
Audra Cooper and Eddie Urman (Turrentine Brokerage) break down what every grower needs to know about pricing, demand, and shifting varietal preferences— insights to help growers navigate change and stay profitable long-term. 

Why Listeners Keep Tuning In 

You don’t always have time to read research papers or attend conferences, but you can always hit play. This Podcast is designed for professionals on the go, with 30-minute-or-less episodes covering IPM, irrigation, nutrient management, and more. 

“The Sustainable Winegrowing podcast is a great way to stay up to date on the research and progress that is going on. I consider myself a production viticulturalist, so as I’m driving from one conference to the next, I love to listen.” 
— Terry Bates, Director,  Cornell University 

Start Listening Today 

Search for Sustainable Winegrowing on your favorite podcast app or visit www.vineyardteam.org/podcast to browse all episodes. Subscribe and make every drive a learning opportunity.

Are you or your parent/guardian employed or contracted by the California vineyard and winery industry?
Mark your calendar: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship applications are open from February 2 through March 31, 2026.

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic excellence, and community, work and/or caregiver responsibilities. Multi-year scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $6,000 per student per year. The number of scholarships awarded is based on fund availability.

2 Ways to Share this Opportunity:

Both are available in English and Spanish!

• 8.5x11’ flyer 
• Paycheck inserts: Spanish  |  English

Learn more about how to apply.

In partnership with Must! Charities.

It's your last chance to get tickets to the Sustainable Ag Expo before prices go up on Monday. If you’re still thinking about networking and earning CE at the premiere sustainable ag event of the year, now’s the time to get your ticket!

Doors open at 7:00 am on Tuesday, November 11. You can still buy your ticket at the door, but at a slightly higher price! 

REMINDER: 2-day ticket holders get access to 13 online courses (an additional 13.5 CCA and 11.5 DPR hours)!