November UC short course on organic winegrowing
Organic winegrapes are among the most important organically grown commodities in California. In response to rapid growth in this agricultural sector, UC Cooperative Extension and SAREP are sponsoring a two-day intensive winegrape short course November 17-18 at the Brutocao Vineyard Plaza in Hopland.
Statewide there are over 7000 acres of registered organic winegrapes, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In Mendocino and Lake counties alone there are 50 winegrowers farming over 3500 acres of certified organic winegrapes with a crop value estimated at approximately $18 million, according to Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor in Mendocino and Lake counties. It is estimated that there are an additional 2000 acres of winegrapes in the two counties that are farmed organically but are not certified.
Other parts of the North Coast involved in organic winegrowing include Napa County (1200 certified acres) and Sonoma County (450 certified acres).
“Growers in other regions are also interested in improving their farming practices, and organic wine growing is a popular subject of discussion at many grower meetings,” McGourty said. “Growers raise organic winegrapes for a variety of reasons, but a price differential is not one of them, in most instances.”
He said growers are inspired by the quest for high-quality fruit that expresses the terroir (distinctive characteristics of the land and farming methods) of their region. Worker safety and environmental concerns are the other reasons most widely cited for their interest in organic wine growing, McGourty said.
The short course will emphasize successful practices used by North Coast organic winegrowers. Researchers will present summaries of organic research taking place in the region. Presenters will address key organically acceptable viticultural practices such as soil management, vineyard design and canopy management, cover cropping, and the use of compost. Weed, disease, insect, mite and nematode management will be addressed, as will the topic of vineyards in the landscape. The techniques and practices of organic winemaking will also be discussed (and tasted!).
Course fee: $225. For more information, contact McGourty at 707-463-4495; gtmcgourty @ucdavis.edu; http://cemendocino.ucdavis.edu or www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/organic.
The CDFA’s Buy California Initiative and the USDA are providing partial funding for this event. Other sponsors include Fetzer Vineyards, Brutocao Cellars and the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance.
