270: Regenerative Farming Practices: Water, Soil, and Habitat | Marketing Tip Monday

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Release Date: 04/28/2025

297: Consumers Want Sustainable Wine—Here’s How to Be Seen | Marketing Tip Monday

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Eco-conscious wine lovers are willing to pay more for sustainable products—but they won’t dig for details. In this Marketing Tip Monday, learn how to meet consumer demand for sustainability by making it easy. With 60% of younger and multicultural wine buyers preferring sustainable wines, visibility is key. Show your story at a glance with the SIP Certified logo on your label. It’s fast, simple, and signals your commitment to people and the planet. Resources: Vineyard Team Programs: ...

296: Using Lasers for Bird Pest Management

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Lasers may offer a chemical-free way to deter bird pests in vineyards and other agricultural systems. George Gallagher, Department Head of Animal Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, explains why bird pressure goes beyond crop loss, raising concerns about disease risks like salmonella, E. coli, and transmission of avian influenza. He shares results from a controlled study using a handheld laser, aimed at birds’ feet, to measure how long it took them to respond. The research showed that different birds react differently. George highlights the importance...

295: Wine Law Essentials: Contracts, TTB, Social Media & More

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Legal oversights can cost wine brands dearly, but with the right guidance, many are entirely preventable. Lindsey Zahn, Managing Partner of Lindsey Zahn P.C. Alcoholic Beverage Law Firm, breaks down the top four legal pitfalls wineries and wine brands must avoid. From building solid contracts and understanding who owns what, to navigating TTB labeling rules, producing non-alcoholic wines, and staying compliant with social media advertising laws, this episode arms you with practical knowledge to reduce risk and protect your business from penalties. Resources: ...

294: Rooted in Community: Winery Stories of Generosity | Marketing Tip Monday

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Foxen and Niner show impactful ways to weave generosity into everyday business. As you plan for 2026, think about the unique ways your brand can meaningfully engage with your local community. Then, share your team’s participation, spotlight the organizations you support, and tell the stories that highlight your values. Resources: Vineyard Team Programs:

293: How Solar Panels Can Improve Vine Resilience and Wine Balance

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Rising temperatures and erratic weather accelerate ripening, spread disease faster, and shift sugar, alcohol, and acidity levels. All of which threaten wine quality and style. At Geisenheim University, Dr. Manfred Stoll is testing "vitivoltaics": semi-transparent, trackable solar panels installed above vines. The system moderates heat, radiation, and extreme weather, while improving young vine establishment and water infiltration. Beyond the vineyard, this renewable energy can power everything from irrigation pumps to EV charging stations for wine tasting guests. Resources: ...

292: Testing Vinifera vs. Hybrids: Which Survives Climate Stress Better?

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Will hybrid grapes help vineyards survive climate change? Professor Karine Pedneault of the Université du Québec en Outaouais explores this question through trials that expose grapevines to drought and heat stress. Testing both vinifera and hybrid varieties, her research measured plant water flow and metabolic responses to determine resilience. While hybrids still carry a stigma around flavor, they showed promising resistance, raising the potential to reduce fungicide use by up to half and adapt more sustainably to extreme weather scenarios. Resources: ...

290: Fighting Powdery Mildew with UVC Light

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

With fungicide resistance on the rise, grape growers are looking for new ways to manage powdery mildew. Lexi McDaniel, Viticulture Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, explores the science behind using UVC light to combat this grapevine disease by directly disrupting the DNA bonds needed for replication. She shares insights from her trials, including why the light must be applied at night, how often it needs to pass through the vineyard, and how this technique compares to traditional fungicide programs in both cost and effectiveness. Resources: ...

291: 3 Eco Buzzwords You Didn't Know Are Sustainable | Marketing Tip Monday

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Terms like “regenerative,” “climate‑smart,” and “social equity” aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the building blocks of sustainable winegrowing. Learn wine brands protect soil, reduce energy use, and support people, all while producing high-quality wine. Resources: Sustainable Story Worksheet Vineyard Team Programs:

289: How Spotted Lanternfly Puts Grapes at Risk—and What Growers Can Do

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is more than a nuisance, it poses a serious risk to vineyards. Brian Walsh, Extension Educator and Spotted Lanternfly Researcher with Penn State Extension, explains how this invasive insect threatens grapes across the eastern U.S. From unusual egg-laying behavior to honeydew-covered canopies that attract stinging insects, Walsh explores why vineyards are especially at risk and how growers can prepare during peak pressure in September. Learn about insecticide options, biocontrol efforts, and scouting strategies—whether SLF is in your area or not. Resources: ...

288: Why Now Is the Time to Promote Your Sustainable Certification

Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team

64% of consumers say sustainability is a top purchasing factor—even during inflation. But how do you turn that intent into action? Learn how to close the “aspiration-action gap” by proudly promoting your sustainable certifications and showing customers your commitment to responsible practices. Resources: Sustainable Story Worksheet Vineyard Team Programs:

More Episodes

[00:00:00] Beth Vukmanic: Sustainable farming practices are essential to protect the environment, improve a long-term agricultural productivity and support healthy communities.

[00:00:08] Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know that customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable wine growing.

[00:00:27] And this week's marketing tip, we're going to take a close look at three areas where regenerative farming practices make a big impact, including water management, soil health, and habitat preservation,

[00:00:39] let's kick it off with water management. Water is one of agriculture's most critical resources. Sustainable farmers work carefully to both use water efficiently and protect quality. Anyone who has struggled to keep a plant alive knows that plants don't like too little or too much water and wine. Grapes are no different.

[00:00:57] Regenerative farming practices incorporate moisture sensing technologies to help farmers determine irrigation needs when placed in the soil. These devices estimate how much water is available to the plant, and farmers can use this information to avoid both over and under watering their crops.

[00:01:13] When it comes to rain, there's a greater impact than just irrigating the grapevines. Heavy rains can pull sediment, nutrients, and other farm inputs into neighboring water bodies. This causes imbalances in the water body ecosystem and could threaten the life within it.

[00:01:28] Plant matter can remedy these issues. Roots of living plants spread underground act as a filter that holds sediment in place. Preventing it from exiting the property. Vegetation above ground slows water down as it travels and eases the impact of rain as it hits the ground. Furthering the anti erosion benefits.

[00:01:46] The next time you drive past a vineyard, take a look at the plants growing in between the vine rows. Those cover crops are help protecting waterways.

[00:01:55] Now let's talk about soil health. Healthy soil is the foundation for a thriving farm and a resilient ecosystem. Sustainable practices aim to keep soils rich in nutrients full of life and resistant to erosion for years to come,

[00:02:08] rather than relying on guesswork. Farmers committed to sustainability conduct regular soil tests. This helps them make nutrient management plans that supply the plants with the food that they need without over applying fertilizer

[00:02:22] and back to those cover crops. Healthy soils have a lot of life in them. Microbes, fungi and bacteria are key players in decomposition, helping to convert and transport nutrients that are vital to a healthy plant.

[00:02:35] While cover crops are a fantastic way to enhance soil biodiversity, their benefits extend even further. They can provide refuge for beneficial insects, prevent erosion and improve water infiltration.

[00:02:48] Let's talk about habitat preservation. The influence of farming extends beyond the fence line. Regenerative farmers recognize that their land is part of a larger ecosystem. Protecting natural habitats and promoting biodiversity are key components of responsible land management. Many farmers set aside areas of their property to remain wild or minimally disturbed.

[00:03:09] These spaces serve as important refuges for wildlife and help preserve native plant and animal species beyond simply leaving areas undeveloped. Sustainable farmers often actively work to create and maintain habitats that encourage a diversity of species, including pollinators and beneficial insects.

[00:03:28] They may also take special measures. To protect endangered species where applicable.

[00:03:33] All of these regenerative practices are incorporated into the SIP Certified program. If you want to learn more about being a sustainable wine grower.

[00:03:40] Check out SIP certified.org and sign up to complete the program as a self-assessment for free. Until next time, this is Sustainable Wine Growing with the Vineyard team.

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