Grape Day Presentations

Foothill Grape Day is an annual educational event for wine grape growers sponsored and organized by the Central Sierra University of California Cooperative Extension.  Foothill Grape Day features presentations by University of California Farm Advisors, Faculty and researchers on the latest information for successful wine grape growing. Growers have the chance to network with speakers during lunch and wine tasting following the program. Click on the links below to view previous Foothill Grape Day agendas and powerpoint presentations.

2020 Foothill Grape Day "Vineyard Pest Management"
Online Webinar Meetings

• Tuesday, March 31 - 11:00 – 11:45 am
  Vineyard Weed Management: Highlights and Take Homes from My Career
  John Roncoroni, UC Cooperative Extension North Coast Weed Science Advisor
• Tuesday, March 31 - 1:00–1:45 pm
  Smoke exposure and its related effects on wine
  Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension Viticulture Advisor, Lake/Mendocino
• Wednesday, April 1 - 9:00-11:00 am Red Blotch Virus and Suspect Vectors
  • An overview of red blotch symptoms and spread in the foothills
    Lynn Wunderlich, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Central Sierra
  • Investigation into the biology and behavior of the three-cornered alfalfa hopper and their relationship with vineyards
    Dr. Cindy Kron, UC Cooperative Extension North Coast IPM Advisor
  • Three-cornered Alfalfa Hopper and Other Potential Vectors of Red Blotch
    Dr. Houston Wilson, UC Asst. Cooperative Extension Specialist Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Dept. Entomology, UC Riverside
• Thursday, April 2 - 11:00 am–Noon
  Source-sink relationships in grapevine: Storage reserves and fruiting (Online Webinar Recording)
  Dr. Kaan Kurtural, Extension Viticulture Specialist; UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology & UC Oakville Experiment Station
• Friday, April 3 - 11:00-11:45 am
  Grapevine trunk diseases in California: Research updates
  (Online Webinar Recording)
  Dr. Akif Eskalen, UC Cooperative Extension Plant Pathology Specialist; UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology

2018 Foothill Grape Day "Vine Balance"

• Setting the Stage: Factors Affecting Foothill Site Capacities, Lynn Wunderlich, UCCE Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• Below Ground Factors Influencing Vine Balance, Mark Battany, UCCE San Luis Obispo County Viticulture Farm Advisor
• Pruning and Training Principles for Balanced Vines, Larry Bettiga, UCCE Monterey County Viticulture Farm Advisor
• Canopy Management in the Mature Vineyard, Rhonda Smith, UCCE Sonoma County Viticulture Farm Advisor
• Crop Load Management of Young Vines, George Zhuang, UCCE Fresno County Viticulture Farm Advisor
• Inherent Characteristics Affecting Balance of Common Foothill Grape Varieties, Glenn McGourty, UCCE Mendocino County Viticulture & Plant Science Advisor
• Vine Balance Effects on Fruit Quality, Kaan Kurtural, UC Davis Viticulture Specialist, Dept. of Viticulture and Enology
• Estimating Yield and Adjusting Fruit Load: A Grower’s Perspective, Ann Kraemer, Vineyard Manager, Yorba Wines and Shake Ridge Ranch

2017 Foothill Grape Day "Improving Your Vineyard 'Culture'"

• Welcome. Foothill research update, Lynn Wunderlich, UCCE Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• Keys to successful vineyard plantings, Larry Bettiga, UCCE Monterey County Viticulture Farm Advisor
• Studies of the three-cornered alfalfa treehopper: vector of grapevine red blotch virus., Cindy Preto, UC Davis Entomology Dept. PhD candidate
• Spore trapping: a new tool for powdery mildew detection., Bryan Rahn, President, Coastal Viticultural Consultants, Inc.
• Area-wide IPM program for Virginia Creeper Leafhopper, Houston Wilson, UC Berkeley Entomology Post-doctoral student
• Effect of high temperatures on fruit composition, Kaan Kurtural, UCCE Viticulture Specialist
• Tannin development in the vineyard., James Campbell, UC Davis Viticulture and Enology PhD candidate

2016 Foothill Grape Day "Healthy Vines, Fine Wines" Agenda

• Welcome. Foothill update. How much water do vines really use?, Lynn Wunderlich, UCCE Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• The effect of cultural practices on winegrape composition, Kaan Kurtural, UCCE Viticulture Specialist
• Grapevine plant pathology: highlights of 33 years of extension research and outreach, Doug Gubler, UCCE Plant Pathology Specialist
• Red Blotch vector update, Brian Bahder, UC Davis Entomology Post-Doctoral Researcher
• The effect of red blotch virus on winegrape and wine composition, Anita Oberholster, UCCE Enology Specialist
• The status of leafroll and red blotch virus in the foothills, Lynn Wunderlich
• Cooperation is the key to combat grapevine viruses, Neil McRoberts, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

2014 Foothill Grape Day "Back to Zin!" Agenda

• The Powdery Mildew Stations: How do we learn to use the Index?
  2013 Powdery mildew trial results and 2014 update, Lynn Wunderlich, UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra Farm Advisor & Brianna McGuire, Plant Pathology Graduate Student, UC Davis
• Developing an agroecosystem approach to noxious weed management in foothill vineyards. Introducing our Calaveras study, Ruby Stahel, USDA - ARS Biological Science Technician
• Update on Red Blotch Disease., Rhonda Smith, UCCE Sonoma County, Viticulture Advisor
• How grape vines use water: a journey through the vine's vascular system, Andrew McElrone, USDA Research Scientist, Viticulture and Enology Dept., Davis
• Back to Zin: Growing and Vinifying Our Foothill Legacy into the Future

2013 Foothill Grape Day "Quality Collaborations" Agenda

• Foothill Research Update: Tools You Can Use to Improve Quality, Lynn Wunderlich, UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• How to Choose Rootstocks for Foothill Vineyards, and Why Phylloxera Matter, Dr. Andy Walker, Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis
• Grape Vine Red Blotch Disease: What we know now, Dr. Mysore Sudarshana, USDA-ARS
• Quality Collaborations: Teaming Together to Improve Our Foothill Wines
• Grower - Winery: Quality Collaboration, Kris Mapes, Trinchero Family Estates. With 16+ years as a Trinchero Grower Relations Representative, responsible for Districts 10, 11, and 17, Kris provides support and solid experience for his growers.

2012 Foothill Grape Day "What's White Hot?!" Agenda

• Welcome & Foothill Viticulture Update: A UC Cooperative Extension Update, Lynn Wunderlich, UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• To apply or not to apply fertilizers: Mineral nutrient uptake by grapevines and interpretation of tissue analysis, Larry Williams, UC Viticulture Professor, Kearney Agriculture Center
• Avoid getting “burned": managing Botrytis bunch rot and sunburn in vineyards, Rhonda Smith, UC Cooperative Extension Sonoma County
• White wine varieties for the Foothills: How far off the beaten trail can we go?, Jim Wolpert, UC Viticulture Specialist, UC Davis

2011 Foothill Grape Day  "Focus on Barbera" Agenda

• Foothill grape research projects: A UC Cooperative Extension Update, Lynn Wunderlich, U.C. Cooperative Extension Central Sierra Farm Advisor
• What's new with powdery mildew management, Doug Gubler, UC Davis Plant Pathology
• How Barbera came to California, Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension, Mendocino and Lake Counties
• The New Russell Ranch Vineyard: Barbera clones at Foundation Plant Services, Nancy Sweet, National Grape Registry Clean Plant Network
• Growing Barbera in Italy: The Performance of Italian Barbera Clones in California, Diego Barison, director of Field Operations and Customer Relations, NovaVine
• Boeger Winery: Barbera producer since 1975, Justin Boeger

2010 Foothill Grape Day Agenda

• Gill's mealybug (Ferrisia Gili) biology and management, Lynn Wunderlich, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Amador and El Dorado Counties
• European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) update: What we know now, Monica Cooper, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Napa County
• Understanding foothill vineyard soils: nutrition and terroir implications, Toby O'Geen, U.C. Land and Air Resources Soils Specialist
• Canopy Management: the basics and beyond, Larry Bettiga, U.C. Cooperative Extension, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
• Marketing Panel: Marketing in tough times.
  
• Marketing Grapes in Tough Times, Nick Frey, President, Sonoma County Winegrape Commission
  Nick became President of the SCWC in September, 2006. Their mission is to increase the value of Sonoma County wine grapes and to nurture and protect this agriculture resource for future generations. Previously, Nick was Executive Director of the Sonoma Grape Growers Association since May, 1999.

2009 Foothill Grape Day Agenda

• Farm Advisor Update: What's happening locally, Lynn Wunderlich, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Amador and El Dorado Counties
• What's next for variety selection? ABCCM: (Anything but Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot), Paul Verdegaal, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, San Joaquin County
• Irrigation Strategies for Dry Times: getting the most from every drop, Terry Prichard, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, San Joaquin County
• Frost! Understanding and preventing frost damage, Rick Snyder, Biometerology Specialist, UC Davis
• Clonal Diversity of Zinfandel: Heritage Zin Trial, Jim Wolpert, UCCE Viticulture Specialist
• Focus on Marketing: The Lake County Grape Commission, Rick and Shannon Gunier, CPI Marketing. Rick and Shannon Gunier are an energetic pair that have managed all of the Lake County Grape Commission's activities for 15 years, marketing the Lake County winegrape growing region and assisting growers in a variety of activities including educational and research programs that benefit growers' vineyard development. Lake County winegrape sales have increased to almost 40 million dollars in 2008. Hear how they got there.

2008 Foothill Grape Day Agenda

• Spider Mite Control in the Vineyard: Organic and conventional strategies, Dr. Frank Zalom, UC Davis Entomology
• Top 10 mediterranean varieties for warm places in California, Glenn McGourty, U.C. Cooperative Extension Lake and Mendocino Counties
• Evaluation of Barbera Clones, Dr. Matthew Fidelibus, UC Kearney Agriculture Center, Parlier
• Differentiating the Foothills: Defining and Marketing What Can Set Us Apart, Panel presentations and discussions
• The Foothill Rhone Niche, Bill Easton - Bill is president, winemaker and grower of Terre Rouge and Easton Wines in Amador County. He has been a consultant and wine retailer for 30 years and understands foothill "terroir".
• Lessons Learned from Lodi/Woodbridge, Stuart Spencer - Stuart has been the Program Manager for the Lodi Winegrape Commission for 9 years, and is responsible for directing their marketing and educational activities committed to raising the awareness of Lodi wines and grapes. He is also the winemaker for St. Amant Winery and has a vineyard in Amador County that specializes in Spanish and Portuguese grapes.
• Media Perspective, Mike Dunne - Mike is a well known and highly respected wine and food writer for the Sacramento Bee. June 5th 2008 coincided with the launch date for the Sac Bee's new wine website, featuring the Foothills.

2007 Foothill Grape Day Agenda

• Mealybug Biology and Control Strategies, Monica Cooper, Staff Research Associate, UC Berkeley
• Spread of Leafroll Virus: Implications for growers, Ed Weber, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Napa County
• Achieving Vine Balance and the Role of Rootstocks, Jim Wolpert, U.C. Specialist, Department of Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis
• Extended ripening effects of Cabernet Sauvignon, Ed Weber, U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Napa County
• Evaluation of Sierra Foothill Zinfandel Selections, Donna Hirschfelt, U.C. Davis Extension