2024 Conference Series Session Dates:
March 6th, 2024 • June 26th, 2024 • December 18th, 2024
Growing Forward Conference is an online conference designed specifically for grape growers and vineyard professionals. This conference serves as a platform to educate and support growers throughout the vineyard growing cycle, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the ever-evolving industry.
2024 Presenting Series Sponsor:
Session 3: Managing Risk with the New Fire and Smoke Crop Insurance Endorsement
Broadcast Date: December 18th, 2024 – 10:00 am (PT)
Join us for a comprehensive session exploring essential insurance solutions for grape growers. Industry experts will be discussing the new Fire Insurance Protection – Smoke Index (FIP-SI) endorsement for the 2025 crop year. They will cover how it enhances a grower’s underlying Multi-Peril Crop Insurance policy to protect up to 95% of a crop’s value against fire and smoke damaged grapes.
This session will review how the Risk Management Agency determines county-wide smoke events, grower requirements for the claims process, and how a claim payment is calculated with historical references to illustrate how FIP-SI can strengthen your risk management strategy.
They’ll also discuss the new Grapevine Policy, launched for the 2024 crop year, which provides coverage specifically for grapevines. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore these valuable programs and learn how they can protect your vineyard operations.
Session Panel:
Session 2: Emerging Irrigation Practices and Technologies in the Vineyard
Broadcast Date: June 26th, 2024
Explore innovative irrigation management practices and technologies emerging in the industry that are now helping growers in the vineyard to improve yields and quality, save water, and optimize labor, especially in response to rising water scarcity and farming costs.
Join us to hear from industry experts on new, actionable techniques you can apply today to maximize crop per drop, monitor crop stress, report on water use, and more.
Session Panel:
Arthur Chen, CEO & Co-founder / Verdi
Dr. Luca Brillante, Bronco Wine Company Chair in Viticulture / California State University, Fresno
Sarah Ferguson, CEO / Ruetd
Michele Melillo, VP of Global Technical Services / Sun World
Session Sponsors
2024 Session 1: Grapevine Disease Detection & Prevention
Broadcast Date: March 6, 2024
Damaging grapevine diseases caused by virus and virus-like agents, including the red leaf diseases, are becoming widespread in vineyards and can cause significant devastation on grape quality and yield. This session, led by industry experts and researchers, will explore advanced techniques and technologies for early disease detection, empowering growers with the knowledge to identify and mitigate risks effectively. From understanding the nuances of common grapevine diseases to implementing proactive prevention strategies, participants will gain invaluable insights to protect their vineyards and optimize crop health. Additionally, we will examine the ongoing research efforts aimed at gaining further insights into vectors and other pertinent factors, which can inform the development of innovative strategies.
Session Panel:
Marc Fuchs, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Virology / Cornell University
Kris Lowe, Ph.D., President / Vine Balance Consulting
Sarah MacDonald, Ph.D., Research Scientist / University of California, Davis
James A. Stamp, Ph.D., Stamp Associates Viticulture, Inc.
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Previous Growing Forward Broadcasts:
Watch Our Previous Growing Forward Conference Programs from 2020 – 2023:
Our past sessions focused on key takeaways from the 2020 California Crush report; the 2021 bulk and grape market; regenerative viticulture; and the impact the West Coast wildfires continue to have on grower contacts and crop insurance, and how to protect your ag business.
2023 Presenting Sponsor:
Optimizing Irrigation Practices in a Time of Change
Broadcast Date: July 19th, 2023
This session will address the pressing issues surrounding vineyard irrigation and explore how site-specific data and monitoring are pivotal to improving vineyard performance in the face of increased climate variability. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of implementing robust irrigation management, such as water conservation, vine health enhancement, fruit quality optimization, and farming cost savings. Our esteemed panel of experts will include experienced grape growers from the Central and North coast of California, to share their practical knowledge and real-world experiences. Prepare to acquire actionable strategies and discover innovative approaches that will help you maximize vineyard performance through optimized irrigation practices.
Session Panel:
Mike Anderson, Viticulture Consultant / Peake Ranch Winery
Mark Greenspan, President and Viticulturist / Advanced Viticulture
John (JT) Jaeger, Viticulturist II / Jackson Family Wines
Steve Vierra, Director of Vineyard Operations / Derby Wine Estates
Climate-Friendly Farming: A New Frontier for the Wine Industry
Broadcast Date: July 19th, 2023
Climate change and variability is one of the most significant challenges facing the wine industry locally and globally. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more extreme weather events are all having a negative impact on grape growing and quality.
To combat these changes, pioneering grape growers and organizations like the California Land Stewardship Institute (CLSI) are leading the way in adapting to climate change by adopting more climate-friendly farming practices. Attendees will learn about innovative techniques and technologies that mitigate the environmental impact and enhance vineyard resilience in the face of climate change. Hear from resourceful growers who have embraced sustainable practices, reduced their carbon footprint, and are preserving natural resources. Gain practical knowledge, understand the benefits and challenges, and discover how these practices contribute to thriving and climate-resilient vineyard ecosystems.
Session Panel:
Tyler Klick, Viticulturist / Redwood Vineyard Management
Riggs Lokka, Assistant Vineyard Manager / Emeritus Vineyards
Laurel Marcus, Executive Director / California Land Stewardship Institute
Brad Petersen, Vineyard Manager / Silver Oak Cellars
Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Grape Growing
Broadcast Date: July 19th, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the wine industry, and its impact on farming wine grapes is no exception. AI is being used to solve a variety of challenges that grape growers face, including pests and diseases, weather conditions, soil conditions, labor costs and overall profitability.
This seminar will explore how AI can be used to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of grape growing. You will learn about the latest AI technologies and how they can be applied to your vineyard. This is a must-attend event for any grape grower who wants to stay ahead of the curve and improve their bottom line.
Session Panel:
Cassie Braswell, Customer Success / HotSpot Ag
Carlos Danti, Winegrowing Director / Chandon
Margarita Postoronca, Viticulturist / Chandon
Tom Shapland, CEO / Tule Technologies
Session Sponsor:
2022 Growing Forward Series
Lessons from Early Implementers
Broadcast Date: November 16th, 2022
There is a great deal of new technology and science becoming available to winegrowers each year, and it can be a daunting task to figure out which to prioritize and how to prepare for implementation while managing costs and expectations.
We have put together a panel of three speakers representing vineyards that have adopted new growing technologies or methods over the past couple of seasons. This panel of winegrowers and vineyard managers will share their experiences as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques including pitfalls to avoid, what surprised them, the results they achieved, and their recommendations for others considering adoption.
Session Panel:
Lance Donny, MODERATOR – CEO / AgCode
Greg Gonzalez, Director of Central Coast Farming / Foley Family Vineyards
Courtney Preston Shifflett, Viticulturist North Coast / The Duckhorn Portfolio
Rob Whyte, COO / Renteria Vineyards
Session Sponsors:
Decision Time: Preparing for the Risk Factors of Smoke & Fire Exposure
Broadcast Date: July 27th, 2022
Wildfires have become an annual concern for grape growers around the globe, bringing devastation to crops and affecting wine quality for entire vintages. WIN’s latest Growing Forward webinar will prepare winegrowers to make more informed decisions in the event their vineyards are impacted by fire and/or smoke. Topics will range from determining the level of risk, what should or should not be in growers’ contracts, leveraging the correct data to mitigate risk, negotiating access permits for essential jobs in the event of an evacuation, farmworker safety protocols, contingency harvest plans, and more. Presented by industry experts, this session is for any grape grower looking to be better positioned in the event their grapes are at risk for smoke exposure.
Session Panel:
Adam Koeppel, Co-Founder & CEO / Agrology
Riggs Lokka, Assistant Vineyard Manager / Emeritus Vineyards
Anita Oberholster, Extension Specialist in Enology / University of California, Davis
Session Sponsors:
New Learnings & Best Practices on Grape Powdery Mildew and Soil Moisture Monitoring
Broadcast Date: March 31st, 2022
As bud break begins this season, two of the biggest concerns for grape growers are grape powdery mildew (GPM) and pre-irrigation of their vineyards. As the growing season progresses, another major concern is how to best utilize limited irrigation water resources. This session, led by Bryan Rahn, CPAg/SS, CCA and president of Coastal Viticultural Consultants, Inc. (CVC) will provide information for GPM and soil moisture/plant monitoring best practices that lead to more efficient GPM treatments and irrigation water use. The session will include vineyard managers from Silver Oak Winery and Trinchero Family Estates to share their experiences along with the results of implementing the programs presented
Session Panel:
Bryan Rahn, MODERATOR – President / Coastal Viticultural Consultants, Inc.
Allison Bettis, Viticulturist / Silver Oak Winery
Matt Frank, Senior Director of Vineyard Operations / Trinchero Family Estates
Dylan Rahn, Viticulturist, Vineyard Manager / Coastal Viticultural Consultants, Inc.
Session Sponsor:
Regenerative Farming: The Future for Grapegrowers?
Broadcast Date: March 3rd, 2022
A deep-rooted agricultural practice has resurfaced in modern vineyards—regenerative farming. While not a new concept, the term is circulating within the wine industry, touted as a step above sustainable, organic, and even biodynamic viticulture. This session aims to define what regenerative agriculture in practice means in terms of grape growing, its benefit over other sustainable measures, and best practices for transitioning a vineyard.
Session Panel:
Stacy Briscoe, Wine Journalist & Editor
Craig Camp, winegrower / Troon Vineyard
Paul Dolan, Co-Founder / Truett-Hurst Inc.
Jordan Lonborg, Viticulturist / Tablas Creek
Paul Skinner, President / Vineyard Investigations; Owner / Sequum Wines
2021 Growing Forward Series
Smoke Exposure: A Growers Perspective
Broadcast Date: March 3rd, 2021
The 2020 harvest was a sad reminder that wildfires are an ongoing environmental hazard for California growers. Effects of fire and smoke damage extend out of the field as well: we’re now re-defining grower-producer contractual agreements; re-evaluating crop insurance decisions, and re-assessing what tests are needed—and available—to ensure quality fruit and wine. This session will look at all of the above and feature a panel of experts who will share their recommendations to the grape-growing community on how to evolve with the current climate and work toward a profitable future for your business.
Session Panel:
Lise Asimont, Co-founder & Viticulturist / Dot Wines, LLC
David Balter, Partner / Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty
Jeff Bitter, President / Allied Grape Growers
Brian Clements, Vice President / Turrentine Brokerage
John Trinidad, Partner / Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty
Session Sponsor:
California Crush Report: Implications for 2021
Broadcast Date: March 3rd, 2021
The session, led by Glenn Proctor, partner of global wine and grape broker Ciatti Company, will present the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Annual Grape Crush Report and highlight the most important implications for wineries and growers for the upcoming harvest as well as the bulk wine market.
Session Panel:
Todd Azevedo, Partner, Broker / Ciatti Company
Johnny Leonardo, Broker / Ciatti Company
Greg Livengood, President, Partner, Broker / Ciatti Company
Glenn Proctor, Partner / Ciatti Company
Chris Welch, Partner, Broker / Ciatti Company
Session Sponsor:
Supporting 2021 Event Sponsors:
