5915 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California, United States of America, 93422

https://www.vineyardteam.org/

805-466-2288

Feeds

Grazing as a Sustainable Practice for Vineyards

Description:

Join us for an in depth look at the intricacies, logistics, challenges, and effects of grazing sheep in vineyards.

Owner/operator Anna DeLaski of Solminer will guide a vineyard tour and grazing demo, followed by a panel discussion led by Gabe Worthington (MTI Soil Scientist/ Certified Crop Advisor) on the effects of incorporating grazing into permanent cropping systems. 

Speakers:

  • Anna DeLaski, Solminer
  • Gabe Worthington, MTI Soil Scientist/ Certified Crop Advisor
  • Kelly Mulville, Paicines Ranch
  • Hillary Graves, Booker Vineyard
  • Mindy Record, Paso de Record & JUSTIN Vineyards
  • Cole Bakke, IOU Sheep Co.


REGISTER


CE Approved: CCA 2 S


Project Partners: International Fresh Produce Association, Measure to Improve, Vineyard Team

We would like to thank the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodity Grant for the investment in expanding markets for U.S. climate-smart commodities, leveraging the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and providing direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers. 

Vineyard Team sustainable grazing sustainable winegrowing soil health nutrient management crop winegrowing regenerative Tailgate

Scholarship Applications are Open!

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 3 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.  

 

In partnership with Must! Charities.



Vineyard Team scholarship Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship higher education next generation college trade school community first generation

Dry Farming Grower Roundtable

Event Type: Seminar

Event Date: 02/20/2025

Location: Lone Madrone, 3750 Hwy 46 West, Templeton, CA 93465


Dry farming in Paso Robles involves a variety of approaches and practices, including floor management, spacing, varietals, and canopy management. These methods are highly adaptable and tailored to the unique conditions of each site. 

Join us for a grower roundtable that will provide practical insights for both dry farmers and those interested in dry farming!

Date/time: Thursday, February 20 @ 9:00-11:00 am
Location: Lone madrone Winery

REGISTER HERE

This meeting is funded by the Department of Water Resources and is a collaboration between CSWACAFFand Vineyard Team.

Dry farming Vineyard Team sustainable water conservation water management California wine sustainable winegrowing

Thriving Together: Dry Farming Grower Roundtable

Dry farming in Paso Robles involves a variety of approaches and practices, including floor management, spacing, varietals, and canopy management. These methods are highly adaptable and tailored to the unique conditions of each site. 

Join us for a grower roundtable that will provide practical insights for both dry farmers and those interested in dry farming!

REGISTER HERE

This meeting is funded by the Department of Water Resources and is a collaboration between CSWACAFFand Vineyard Team.

Vineyard Team CAFF CSWA Dry Farming grower roundtable network water management sustainable sustainable water management water

Scholarship Applications Open February 3

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 3 through March 31, 2025.

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.

Visit our website to learn more about the application process.

2 Ways to Share 

Both are available in English and Spanish!

  1. 8.5x11’ flyer 
  2. Paycheck inserts: SpanishEnglish 

In partnership with Must! Charities.

Scholarship Vineyard and Winery Workers Viticulture Wine Industry Next Generation Higher Education First Generation Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship Must! Charities Vineyard Team

Vineyard Team Reflects on a Landmark Year of Sustainability and Growth

To conclude a year defined by forward-thinking practices and community engagement, we at Vineyard Team proudly share an annual review to highlight our industry’s significant achievements and ongoing commitment to sustainable winegrowing.

In 2024, we hosted 8 Tailgates and 2 collaborative events across 3 counties, offering over 20 continuing education (CE) hours to growers and ag professionals. These events strengthened the sense of community, supported five local coffee shops, and fostered the formation of countless new friendships.

November’s annual Sustainable Ag Expo included:

  • 531 attendees

  • 63 exhibitors

  • 3 special networking opportunities

  • 16 in-person seminars

  • 13 online courses

  • 29 hours of continuing education 

147 attendees experienced streamlined DPR reporting through a collaboration with CE Reported. All attendees enjoyed 38 gallons of coffee, 205 donuts, 26 bottles of wine, and 600 ounces of beer in the event’s lively and engaging atmosphere.

Our dedication to education extended to the Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand program, made possible by Western SARE. Vineyard Team staff dedicated 654 hours to produce this innovative program, which was embraced by 120 participants who watched 526 hours of content and shared insights with 3,532 farmers.

Thanks to our generous community, we exceeded our fundraising goal for the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarshipawarding $67,000 to 18 returning and 6 new scholars. Notably, all new scholars are first-generation college students. This year’s recipients are embarking on their academic journeys at 5 colleges across 2 states, with 3 staying local to the Central Coast.

The Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast expanded listeners’ access to cutting-edge sustainable practices through 48 brand-new episodes featuring over 50 industry experts. While the new 2024 episodes alone garnered over 17k downloads, the top-downloaded episodes of 2024 extended back to previous years, highlighting the timeless nature of the podcast’s educational content:

  1. 110: How to Develop a New Vineyard Site

  2. 72: Soil Microbes and Nutrient Availability

  3. 114: Designing a Vineyard for Year-Round Sheep Grazing

  4. 92: Regenerative Agriculture

  5. 80: The Goldilocks Principle & Powdery Mildew Management

This year also saw the addition of 12 new vineyards and 2,500 acres into the SIP Certified program, reinforcing our industry’s commitment to sustainability. We conducted 9 in-person Sustainable Story trainings for hospitality staff and updated the online course. Additionally, Whitney, SIP Certified Coordinator, published 9 Sustainable Story articles in Grape & Wine Magazine (2023 - 2024).

As we look ahead, Vineyard Team remains committed to promoting sustainable winegrowing, facilitating educational opportunities, and community engagement. We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported and participated in our initiatives this year.

Year in Review 2024 Vineyard Team Sustainable Sustainable Winegrowing Sustainable Viticulture Regenerative Regenerative Farming Regenerative Ag Ag Tech Pest Management Podcast Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast Expo Sustainable Ag Expo Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship Scholarship First Generation SIP Certified Sustainable Certification Marketing

There's Still Time to get Tickets for the Sustainable Ag Expo!

Doors open in 5 days!

There's still time to get tickets for the Sustainable Ag Expo before prices increase!* 

Doors open Tuesday, Nov. 12 & Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 am.

*Prices increase Saturday, November 9

GET TICKETS


Check out:


CE Hours Available

16 in-person seminars next Tuesday and Wednesday give you access to 7.5 DPR and 15.5 CCA hours.

Continue taking your 12 online courses* through November 29 to earn an additional 10 DPR and 12 CCA hours.

*Add your license numbers into the online portal

*Online courses are accessible with a 2-day pass.


FAQs

Get ready for the premiere sustainable ag event of the year!

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for all of the info you need to know.

If you have any questions that aren't addressed here, please reach out to Hayli@VineyardTeam.org.

Vineyard Team Sustainable Ag Expo SIP Certified sustainable sustainable winegrowing sustainable agriculture agriculture technology regenerative agriculture trade show continuing education integrated pest management sustainable pest management soil health compost biochar nutrient management

Enhancing Sustainability with Digital Agriculture Solutions

Sustainable Ag Expo  I  November 12    I    10:30-11:15 am

SmartFarm is an open source computing system that combines advances in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing to support applications in digital agriculture. SmartFarm simplifies the use of these advances and can run on-farm (to keep farm data private) while it efficiently and intelligently controls on-farm operations (sensing, robotics, irrigation, and others).

CE Approved: 1 CCA - PV


GET TICKETS

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Chandra Krintz is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and co-founder and Chief Scientist of AppScale Systems, Inc. She joined the UCSB faculty in 2001 after receiving her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Chandra has led a number of different research projects that have advanced the state-of-the-art in programming and distributed systems in ways that improve performance and energy consumption, and that ease development and deployment of software. Recently, her work has focused on the intersection of IoT, edge and cloud computing, and data analytics with applications in farming, ranching, and conservation science (cf SmartFarm and WTB). Chandra has advised over 90 undergraduate and graduate students, has published numerous research articles in a wide range of top venues, participates in efforts to broaden participation in computing, and is the progenitor of the AppScale project. Chandra's efforts have been recognized with a NSF CAREER award, the CRA-W Anita Borg Early Career Award (BECA), the UCSB Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, and as a UCSB Sustainability Champion.

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Resources:

Vineyard Team SIP Certified Sustainable Ag Expo ag technology agriculture technology AI sustainable sustainable farming sustainable winegrowing data data analysis

Using Weather Data to Gauge Spray Drift Risk

Using Weather Data to Gauge Spray Drift Risk

Sustainable Ag Expo   I   November 12    I    2:00-3:00 pm

The regulatory situation of spray drift is changing, with increasing penalties for infractions. Mark Battany's presentation will explain the weather conditions that lead to drift and how data tools can help growers and applicators avoid spraying at high drift risk periods. 

CE Approved: 1 DPR - O; 1 CCA - IPM

Get Tickets! 

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Mark graduated with a B.S. in Agronomy from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Hydrologic Sciences from UC Davis. He subsequently spent two years at the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture in Cordoba, Spain as a Fulbright scholar. Mark worked for the UC Cooperative Extension from 2001 until 2024, initially as the Viticulture Farm Advisor and later the Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Now retired from UC, Mark will continue to work diligently on agricultural water, soil and climate topics in California and beyond.

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Resources:

Vineyard Team SIP Certified Sustainable Ag Expo San Luis Obispo continuing education spray drift integrated pest management sustainable pest management

Stacking Energy Savings

Sustainable Story: Niner Wine Estates

Shoppers’ sense of urgency around climate change is rising.

78% of global consumers feel that environmental sustainability is important, they like the idea of being sustainable, and want to live more sustainable lives (Simon Kucher & Partners, 2021).

While many brands and retailers today are making eco-friendly claims, some chalk up to little more than greenwashing: a marketing ploy designed to make products seem more sustainable than they are.

Because of this, consumers feel that they can’t always trust “green” claims.

It’s more important than ever for sustainable brands like you to share your sustainable story in a meaningful and authentic way.

Wondering what it means to share a story that consumers can trust? See an example in this week’s Marketing Tip, where we share Niner Wine Estates’ Sustainable Story surrounding the Value of Energy Efficiency.
 

Stacking Energy Savings

Electricity use in the winery accounts for a large proportion of the end-product’s energy demand. From keeping buildings and tanks at proper temperatures to powering equipment and lighting, energy use in a winery adds up quickly.

Anticipating increasing energy demand and cost, Niner Wine Estates built its winery into a hillside. Because of this, the ground level on one side of the building is a couple of stories higher than the ground level on the other side. This wasn’t a flaw in the design; rather, it was a strategy to allow for a gravity-flow winemaking system.

Grapes are brought into the facility at the top level. Instead of being transferred by machines, the grapes move with gravity down the tiers of the building through each stage of the winemaking process.

Another energy-efficient benefit of the hillside is that the earth surrounding the building works as natural insulation, reducing the need for a cooling system to keep the facility at optimal temperatures.

Sunlight is yet another natural element that Niner Wine Estates utilizes. Large windows in the production facility and tasting rooms allow sunlight to fill these buildings during the day.

When they do need electricity, the grid is not their primary source. Since 2015, the majority of their tasting room, restaurant, wineries, and wells have been powered by the sun. There are two banks of high-efficiency solar panels on the property: one on the top of their winery building and the other on the ground next to their tasting room.

Additional solar panels can be found in the parking lot, but they aren’t used to power business operations. These solar banks are on top of EV charging stations, welcoming staff and guests to plug in while they enjoy their time at Niner Wine Estates.

Together, all of these components have a significant impact on Niner Wine Estates’ Energy Efficiency, and have earned the business two symbols of sustainability achievement: SIP Certified and LEED-Certified, level Silver.

Vineyard Team SIP Certified sustainable sustainable winegrowing energy efficiency Niner Wine Estates marketing Marketing Tip Monday Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast

About

Keeping up-to-date with the latest sustainable winegrowing practices can be hard...but it doesn't have to be.

What started as a small grower group’s desire to educate and guide themselves towards sustainable winegrowing practices has become Vineyard Team, an internationally recognized leader in the sustainability movement.

Since 1994, the 501(c)-3 non-profit has served its membership of farmers, winemakers, and industry partners by creating an educational network with the leadership of its staff and board of directors to help growers save resources and money, all while cultivating valuable relationships.

Who Are We: Read about our 5 programs


Mission

Vineyard Team will identify and promote the most environmentally safe, viticulturally and economically sustainable farming methods while maintaining or improving the quality and flavor of wine grapes.

The Team will be a model for wine grape growers and will promote the public trust of stewardship for natural resources.


Demonstration Projects

Demonstration projects help growers learn about new management techniques, successfully adopt new practices, and minimize risk.

Staff, technical advisors (University of California Cooperative Extension/university professors), and growers collaborate to implement specific practices and share the results with the winegrowing community.

Click here to read more about the Demonstration Projects Vineyard Team has been involved with.


Contact

Contact List

Title Name Email Phone Extension
Executive Director Beth Vukmanic beth@vineyardteam.org 805-464-4851
Outreach & Education Coordinator Hayli Macober hayli@vineyardteam.org 805-464-4849
SIP Certified Coordinator Whitney Brownie whitney@vineyardteam.org 805-464-4850

Location List

Locations Address State Country Zip Code
Vineyard Team 5915 El Camino Real, Atascadero California United States of America 93422

List of Locations