NVG's Low-Smoke Burning Technique & Other Alternatives Permitted burn season runs from October through April. One of the easiest and most cost-effective alternatives to smoky burns for growers to implement is NVG’s Low-Smoke Ag Burning Technique. Use NVG's step-by-step manual available in English and Spanish to conduct virtually smoke-free burns to preserve air quality and reduce black carbon. Please note that plant material to be burned must be dried at least 60 days prior to ignition. As we anticipate continued rain events into the early spring, it’s important to remember to:
NVG's Vine Disposal & Open Burning Resources
NVG’s Low-Smoke Ag Burning Manuals and Task Force Webpage Open Burning & Vine Disposal Requirements & Best Practices Alternatives to Traditional Agricultural Biomass Burning in Napa Valley (2018), Daniela Bazán, Master of Science in Environmental Management Cleaner Burns Archives - Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (napafirewise.org) Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Burn Permit Information BAAQMD Regulations BAAQMD'S 'Spare the Air' Status Learn about BAAQMD’s Free Chipping Services
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Photo by Sarah Anne Risk In a continuing effort to promote sustainable best practices, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers has developed a wealth of resources on weed management for members with different farming practices and site-specific needs. Under the Row Weed and Soil Management Best Practices Video With an emphasis on soil health, NVG's Under the Row Weed and Soil Management Best Practices Video, available in English and Spanish, focuses on mechanical weed control for the soil underneath the vines. Responsible Spray Practices Best Practices Paper NVG has created a Best Practices paper on Responsible Spray Practices, available in both English and Spanish. This paper, in checklist format, addresses questions that growers should consider and procedures that should be followed for each application in an effort to generate site-specific planning discussions. ROOTSTOCK 2023 Presentations Weed management is an integral part of the vineyard management system; however, as consumers' and lenders' perceptions around herbicides shift, there is mounting pressure across the wine production chain to adapt farming methods. ROOTSTOCK 2023 addressed this topic head-on by providing educational presentations and resources to growers. To access recordings of these presentations, click the button below. Resources from the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner
The Agricultural Commissioner administered Pesticide Use Enforcement program is responsible for ensuring the safe use of pesticides in all settings in the county. Please see below for more on this program, as well as Best Management Practices for Vineyards in Agricultural-Urban Interface (AUI) Areas. Photo by Sarah Anne Risk The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the Preliminary California Grape Crush Report summarizing annual metrics, including the dollars per ton, number of tons, and brix levels related to each grape transaction across California. 2023 Grape Crush Report Highlights
Highlights based on 2023 preliminary report (published February 2024) compared to the 2022 errata report (published August 2023). To view all historical reports visit USDA’s Grape Crush Report library Napa Winegrape Market Did you know NVG has a Winegrape Market? This tool is indispensable for premium winegrape growers and wine producers seeking to establish new networks in a changing market. This interactive database has been designed to assist both winegrape buyers and sellers in transacting business without any commissions or third-party involvement. Click the button below to access the Napa Winegrape Market. Upcoming Event: Business of Vineyards On Thursday, March 14 from 3pm-4:30pm, NVG will host a Business of Vineyards webinar focused on the Grape Crush Report. Please join us to learn more about the 2023 Grape Crush Report, how growers can find balance during challenging market conditions, maintaining good relationships with buyers, and best practices for contract renegotiations. Additional NVG Member Tools for Grape Sales
NVG members have exclusive access to a library of tools and resources related to grape sales, including sample contracts, past webinars on contracting, and more. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a basin-wide plan that lays out a path for sustainable management of a groundwater basin over a 20-year period. Napa County released three GSP Workplans for review, along with a Combined Program Overview. NVG attended public workshops regarding these workplans and has submitted a comment letter, which you can access below, to advocate for growers and aid the County in understanding effective water mitigation strategies in Napa County vineyards. NVG's Advocacy on the GSP NVG has worked for several years as a voice for growers, aiming to ensure that the state-mandated GSP takes into consideration how water is used in vineyards and how these regulations will impact grape-growing operations. NVG is also a committed community partner in meeting the county’s environmental goals related to ensuring the health of the subbasin. This advocacy includes representing members on the GSP Advisory Committee, providing regular public comment and presentations to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), and regular correspondence with county staff. Upcoming GSP discussions:
Click the button below to view our most recent presentation to the TAG. Napa Valley Grapegrowers GSP Resources & Water Conservation Seminar Part I Video To support members throughout the planning and implementation of the GSP, watch our Water Conservation Seminar with information about the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, and visit our GSP webpage for additional resources. Additional NVG Resources NVG has created and compiled a wealth of water and irrigation resources, including a video on Water Reclamation in the Napa Valley. 500 First Street, Napa CIA at COPIA Monday, January 22 | 5pm - 7pm The Napa Valley Grapegrowers and the Napa Valley Vintners are co-hosting a Board of Supervisors Candidate Forum to educate community members on key issues facing the Napa County wine community leading up to the supervisorial election. Seats on the Board of Supervisors that represent Districts 2, 4, and 5 will be voted on in the March election.
Sign up to attend the session and learn more about each of the candidates' positions, particularly as they relate to Napa County wine and agricultural operations. The forum will be moderated by KVON Host and Producer Barry Martin. If there is a key topic you want to ensure is addressed at the Candidate Forum, please email us at [email protected]. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG), founded in 1975 and representing over 600 grape growers, vineyard managers and associated businesses, announces a new slate of officers for 2024-2025. Founder of Silverado Farming Company Pete Richmond assumes the role of President, with Karen Cakebread, the force behind boutique Napa Valley label ZIATA, stepping in as Vice President. Meaghan Becker of In Vino Veritas continues to lead as the organization’s Treasurer and Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko of Yount Mill Vineyards and Napa Wine Co. serves as Secretary. The membership has elected Cathy Corison of Corison Winery, Mark Pulido of Pulido~Walker, and reelected Michael Silacci of Opus One Winery to the Board of Directors.
Rounding out the 2024 Board of Directors are Erin Bright Russell, Garrett Buckland, Tom Davies, Suzanne Groth, Caleb Mosley, Dan Petroski, Oscar Renteria, and Dave Whitmer. After many years of tremendous service on the Board, Ted Hall, Mary Maher, and Amy Whiteford are retiring from their Board positions. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a basin-wide plan that lays out a path for sustainable management of a groundwater basin over a 20-year period. Napa County has released three GSP Workplans for review, along with a Combined Program Overview. NVG encourages you to engage with this process. You can do so via the comment forms, or at one of three upcoming workshops. Upcoming Workshops
Public comments due January 30, 2024: Combined Program Overview and 3 GSP Workplans NVG's GSP Advocacy NVG has worked for several years as a voice for growers, aiming to ensure a Groundwater Sustainability Plan that both meets the county’s environmental goals and takes into consideration how water is used in vineyards—and how these regulations will impact grape-growing operations. This advocacy includes representing members on the GSP Advisory Committee, providing regular public comment and presentations to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), and regular correspondence with county staff. Napa Valley Grapegrowers GSP Resources & Water Conservation Seminar Part I Video To support members throughout the planning and implementation of the GSP, watch our Water Conservation Seminar with information about the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, and visit our GSP webpage for additional resources. Additional NVG Resources NVG has created and compiled a wealth of water and irrigation resources, including a video on Water Reclamation in the Napa Valley. by Pam Strayer for Wine Business The nation’s most prestigious wine grape grower organization, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVGG), gathered in early November for their two day annual conference, Rootstock. Breaking with the tradition of covering many topics at Rootstock, this year the group featured just one subject–weed control.
The topic has stirred controversy in recent years. A week later, Napa Green, the county’s prominent sustainability program, announced it would require its members to phase out conventional herbicides, including Roundup, by 2026, offering growers technical and financial assistance to support the change The program has 25 current members and 44 others who are in transition. Together they collectively farm 7,000 acres of vines. The growers’ educational gathering was held amidst growing consumer concerns that glyphosate based herbicides, featured in front page news (in recent court cases and ongoing studies), inhibit soil health and affect human health. In Napa, some consumers then began asking vintners if they used the herbicide, which put the topic on some wineries’ radar. “The Napa Valley Grapegrowers have never shied away from a difficult topic or an interesting topic for discussion within the industry,” said NVGG board member Dave Whitmer, the county’s former Ag Commissioner. As the NVGG said in describing its Nov. 6-7 event on its website, “as consumers' and lenders' perceptions around herbicides shift, there is mounting pressure across the wine production chain to adapt farming methods…. as Napa Valley growers continue to strive for viticultural excellence, employing innovative practices is paramount to continuing to increase quality and sustainability in our vineyards.” Press release by Caroline Feuchuk, Napa Valley Grapegrowers, and Teresa Wall, Napa Valley Vintners 12/4/2023 - Saint Helena, CA - Coming off the heels of the longest Napa Valley growing season in a decade, vintners are glowing with expectancy of the truly noteworthy 2023 vintage. Some have proposed it to be one of the greats while others claim it might be the vintage of a lifetime.
“Every century, every place has its legendary vintages. I have no doubt that 2023 will go down as one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley. Every vintner I’ve talked to about 2023 has been nothing short of ecstatic,” said Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and Napa Valley resident in a recent video about the 2023 harvest. Winemakers describe the wines as having freshness, purity and elegance overall with deep colored red wines and a full range of flavors from sites across the valley. Higher-than-average rainfall kicked off the 2023 growing season, and grape growers reported full soil profiles with plenty of moisture, which led to a successful bloom. Due to cooler spring weather, the growing season began 10-14 days behind the 2022 season. “The remainder of the growing season was a mild one. Cooler growing conditions meant extended hang time for grapes,” said Brittany Pederson, director of viticulture for Renteria Vineyard Management. “Knowing we’d likely harvest into November, it was our job to ripen the fruit and keep it protected long enough to hang through the extended time frame.” Relatively cool weather in tandem with an abundance of sunshine allowed grape skins to ripen slowly and develop maximal dark red color components for red wines. With 2023’s long growing season, full ripeness of grape skins and seeds provided the building blocks for the red wines’ tannic backbone. “Ripe, rich tannins are the wine’s source of resilience and provide the elements for a long-lived wine. The deep red color is a signal of a stand-out vintage, especially with Cabernet,” said Jim Duane, Winemaker at Seavey Vineyard. Aside from Sauvignon Blanc, which was harvested as early as Labor Day weekend, most varieties ripened in October. This simultaneous ripening meant grape growers and wineries coordinated picks based on tank space in the cellar, and communication among partnerships was key. As always, everyone remained nimble, taking the challenges in stride. “Every harvest we ‘add to our belts’, so to speak, as each one delivers a new experience and learning lesson. 2023 was no exception,” said Pederson. With consistent, mild weather throughout the season, above-average crop yields, and extended hang time, grape growers and winemakers are reporting an exceptional, high-quality, memorable vintage in 2023. A mild growing season has the Napa Valley agricultural community excited about the 2023 vintage:
LEARN MORE ABOUT NAPA VALLEY’S HARVEST
SOMM TV 2023 NAPA VALLEY VINTAGE REPORT Watch the 2023 Napa Valley Vintage Report with winemakers as they get together to recap the harvest season and talk about the 2023 vintage. Airs Tuesday, December 5, 2023 on SOMM TV. 2023 HARVEST PRESS CONFERENCE: A recap of the season Industry insiders joined together to discuss the 2023 growing season, timely topics related to Napa Valley agriculture and harvest. View the 2023 vintage recap on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers YouTube page. |
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