About this podcast
What if you could hang out with experienced grape growers, ask them about the science of grape growing, vineyard operations, and more; then take an insight or two to improve your vineyard and ultimately the quality of the wines you produce? That's what we do each week on the Vineyard Underground. Hosted by Fritz Westover –– viticulture expert more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at grape growing methods, care, and even complicated matters of fertilization and pest and disease management? The goal is to provide you with an understanding of the complicated aspects of viticulture science so that experienced and even first-time grape growers will be able to understand and implement new practices in their vineyard.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 113 episodes
- 112: Spray Less: How PIWI Varieties Combat Fungal Disease and Build Vineyard Resilience with Dr. Oliver Trapp · 1 h 12 min · Episode 112What if a vineyard's strongest defense against fungal disease starts with the grape variety itself? Fritz talks with Dr. Oliver Trapp, head of grapevine breeding at Germany's…
- 111: Bonus Episode: Creating Community - Why I Created VVA · 9 min · Episode 111In this bonus episode, Fritz explains why he founded the Virtual Viticulture Academy in 2018. He describes three motivations: consulting travel limited how many growers he could…
- 110: A Decade with the Spotted Lanternfly - Are We Now in Control with Dr. Julie Urban · 58 min · Episode 110Fritz welcomes Penn State entomologist Dr. Julie Urban for a look back at ten years of spotted lanternfly research — and what vineyard owners have learned along the way. Julie…
- 109: How Vineyard Decisions Impact the Wine Microbiome with Dr. Jack Gilbert · 55 min · Episode 109Leading microbial ecologist from UC San Diego, Dr. Jack Gilbert joins us to talk about how soil and management decisions shape the vine and wine microbiome. We start by defining…
- 108: Bonus Episode: A Mile‑High Move — The Colorado Chapter · 9 min · Episode 83A big life change is brewing as Fritz shares a personal update from his new home base in Denver, Colorado! After nearly two decades in Houston, he and his family have moved to be…
- 107: Is It Time to Pull the Block - Assessing Decline in Older Vines with Dr Kendra Baumgartner · 1 h 9 min · Episode 107Fritz welcomes back Dr. Kendra Baumgartner, a longtime friend and one of his very first podcast guests, to tackle a question every grower eventually faces: when does an aging…
- 106: 3 Sustainability Practices Every Vineyard Can Implement with Shiraz Mottiar · 59 min · Episode 106In this episode, Fritz talks with Shiraz Mottiar, Team Principal and GM at Malivoir Wine Company in Ontario, Canada, about three sustainability practices any vineyard can put…
- 105: Bonus Episode: Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series Takeaways · 15 min · Episode 105In this bonus episode, Fritz shares key lessons from his week in Ontario as the invited speaker for the 13th Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series, hosted by Brock…
- 104: Ask Fritz: Late Season Rots, Juice Analysis, Ripping Out Vines and More! · 34 min · Episode 104In this Q&A episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz answers real-world questions from growers across the U.S., covering late-season disease management, water and nutrient…
- 103: Distinguishing Real Vine Stressors from Imagined Ones with Dr. Mark Krasnow · 1 h 2 min · Episode 103In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz talks with Dr. Mark Krasnow of Thoughtful Viticulture about how to tell real vine stress from false alarms in the vineyard. Mark…
- 102: Baby Steps Towards Biodynamics & Organic Growing Practices - Part 2 with Thijs Verschuuren · 1 h 5 min · Episode 102In this conversation, Fritz continues his deep dive with Thijs Verschuuren of Herman J. Wiemer, exploring practical baby steps toward biodynamic and organic vineyard management…
- 101: Baby Steps Towards Biodynamics & Organic Growing Practices - Part 1 with Thijs Verschuuren · 60 min · Episode 101In this episode, we dig into what it really looks like to take manageable, real-world steps toward biodynamic and organic winegrowing with Thijs (Taze) Verschuuren, Director of…
- 100: 100 Episodes In: What's In, What's Out, and What's Next for the Vineyard Industry · 34 min · Episode 100We mark a major milestone with our 100th episode by stepping back to look at where the vineyard industry has been and where it's headed next. Fritz walks us through what's in…
- 099: Compatibility Test – How Do Biologicals Fit Into Your Spray Program with Katie Gold & Dave Combs · 1 h 5 min · Episode 99Dr. Katie Gold and Dave Combs from Cornell University join Fritz to unpack one of the most confusing topics facing winegrape growers today: how biological fungicides truly fit…
- 098: 3 Overlooked Vineyard Management Tasks that Pay Big Dividends · 32 min · Episode 98Small vineyard decisions made early in the season can create major ripple effects later in the year, and in this episode, Fritz breaks down three vineyard management tasks that…
- 097: Fritz Reviews Reddit Viticulture Advice · 40 minWe are back with another solo episode! Fritz dives into the world of Reddit viticulture advice to separate helpful guidance from misleading recommendations. Using real vineyard…
- 096: Do Plant Growth Regulators Have a Place in Winegrapes with Dr. Matthew Fidelibus · 51 min · Episode 96Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are powerful tools that can dramatically influence vine performance, but they also come with complexity and risk. In this episode, Fritz welcomes…
- 095: Transitioning from Conventional to Organic Grape Farming with Rob Warren · 60 min · Episode 95Organic grape production is gaining momentum, but making the transition from conventional farming requires careful planning, patience, and a willingness to adapt. In this episode…
- 094: Vineyard Nutrition Essentials - Magnesium Fundamentals with Dr. Jaclyn Fiola · 46 min · Episode 94In this final installment of the Vineyard Nutrition Essentials series, Fritz is joined by Dr. Jaclyn Fiola, Assistant Professor of Soil and Environmental Science at Delaware…
- 093: Vineyard Nutrition Essentials - Phosphorus Fundamentals with Dr. Terry Bates · 59 min · Episode 93Phosphorus may not grab attention like nitrogen or potassium, but it plays a foundational role in vine growth, fruit set, and overall vineyard performance. In this episode of…
