Unearth what it takes to Be a Better Grape Grower.
Host Fritz Westover shares best practices for being a successful winegrape grower, offers practical tips for your vineyard, and answers questions from growers like you.
Recent Episodes
112: Spray Less: How PIWI Varieties Combat Fungal Disease and Build Vineyard Resilience with Dr. Oliver Trapp
What if a vineyard’s strongest defense against fungal disease starts with the grape variety itself? Fritz talks with Dr. Oliver Trapp, head of grapevine breeding at Germany’s Julius Kühn Institute, about PIWI varieties and their role in more resilient viticulture. Oliver explains how breeders combine resistance from wild grape species with desirable wine traits, why…
111: Bonus Episode: Creating Community – Why I Created VVA
In this bonus episode, Fritz explains why he founded the Virtual Viticulture Academy in 2018. He describes three motivations: consulting travel limited how many growers he could serve; some growers couldn’t afford or find individual advice; and vineyard management could feel isolating without nearby peers. The academy was created as a trusted source for research-based…
Continue to Episode 111: Bonus Episode: Creating Community – Why I Created VVA
110: A Decade with the Spotted Lanternfly – Are We Now in Control with Dr. Julie Urban
Fritz welcomes Penn State entomologist Dr. Julie Urban for a look back at ten years of spotted lanternfly research — and what vineyard owners have learned along the way. Julie explains why grapevines are especially vulnerable: late-season feeding can disrupt resource flow and drain the carbohydrate reserves vines need for winter. They walk through the…
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Be a Better Grape Grower
Be a part of the growing community of growers mastering the art and science of winegrape production with live and self-guided learning opportunities provided by the Virtual Viticulture Academy.
