A two-day event featuring expert-led seminars and hands-on vineyard demonstrations
February 24, 2025 (Princeton, New Jersey) — The Winemakers Co-Op; a collective dedicated to driving the burgeoning fine wine movement in the Garden State, announces its first major event of 2025, Groundwork: A Vineyard Floor Management Summit taking place March 10-11.
This two-part event brings together leading industry experts to explore essential vineyard floor management topics, including soil health, cover crops, weed control (including grazing), biodiversity, and the economic impact of these practices. Day one features in-depth seminar sessions led by thought leaders from across the country. Day two takes attendees into the field for live demonstrations of vineyard tools and techniques, offering a hands-on look at best practices in action. In a changing environment, optimizing vineyard floor is key to a more sustainable, balanced, and resilient vineyard.
Featured Speakers & Sessions
- A Living Floor: Under-Vine Management for Balanced Vines and Healthy Soils led by Justine Vanden Heuvel, Professor and Chair, Horticulture Section School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, a leading East Coast expert on under vine management.
- The Challenge & Rewards of Biodynamics on the East Coast – Fred Merwarth, visionary winemaker, and co- owner at leading Finger Lakes Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, will share his insights as the only biodynamic- certified (Demeter) East Coast vineyard.
- Long-Term Vineyard Ground Covers: Lessons from Both Sides of the 100th Meridian – Dr. W. Gill Giese Jr., Assistant Professor at Arkansas State University, will share his extensive knowledge on cover crops
- Demystifying the Business of Sustainable Vineyard Practices – Craig Ledbetter, VP Sales of Vino Farms, LLC, California will share his insights and best practices as one the largest vineyard management operations (and owners) in California. As a key contributor to the development of Lodi Rules, the third-party sustainability certification from the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Craig has played a pivotal role in shaping industry standards.
- Vineyard Soil Health: Is It Measurable and Meaningful? – Dr. Jaclyn Fiola, Assistant Professor at Delaware Valley University, presents an in-depth session on soil health assessment and its practical applications.
Hands-On Demonstrations & Cost-Sharing Program
On March 11, attendees will head to Working Dog Winery for a full day of live vineyard demonstrations from expert vendor partners, showcasing innovative tools and equipment designed to enhance vineyard sustainability and efficiency. To help attendees implement what they’ve learned, the Vineyard Floor Management Companion Cost-Sharing Program
offers exclusive discounts and financial support (for New Jersey wineries and vineyards) for adopting new vineyard management tools and techniques.
Full Speaker & Live Demonstration List:
- Dr. Jaclyn Fiola, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Soils & Environmental Science, Delaware Valley University
- W. Gill Giese Jr., PhD, Plant and Soil Science/Assistant Professor, Instructor, College of Agriculture, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
- Craig Ledbetter, Vice President, Vino Farms
- Fred Merwarth, Co-Owner, Winemaker, Vineyard and Nursery Manager, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
- Justine Vanden Heuvel, Professor and Chair, Horticulture Section School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
- Allonardo Enterprises LLC
- Lakeview Vineyard Equipment
- Pellenc America, Inc.
Event Details & Registration
- Day One: Chauncey Hotel & Conference Center, Princeton, NJ
- Day Two: Working Dog Winery, Hightstown, NJ
- Tickets: $150 for the full two-day event / $100 for a single day (This conference is subsidized by The Winemakers Co-Op, with support from the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council and New Jersey Department of Agriculture).
Full agenda and registration – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/groundwork-a-vineyard-floor-management-summit-tickets-1138550688759?aff=oddtdtcreator
About The Winemakers Co-Op
The Winemakers Co-Op was founded in 2015 with the common goal of increasing the quality and perception of the fine wines of New Jersey. Member wineries aim to produce benchmark dry wines from estate‑grown vinifera (European) varieties that illuminate the differences in soil and climate that exist throughout the Garden State. Through a series of intimate tasting events, industry outreach and communication with the press, these wineries have established themselves as leaders of fine wine production on the East Coast. By spearheading essential industry research and development, Co-Op members are striving to push the boundaries of quality with each new vintage. For more information, please visit thewinemakersco-op.com.
