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Vineyard Underground

Fritz Westover
Vineyard Management
Viticulture
Grape Growing
Pruning Techniques
Soil Moisture Monitoring
Canopy Management
Vineyard Floor Management
Wine Production
Powdery Mildew
Soil Health
Vineyard Mechanization
Cover Crops
Arizona Wine Industry
Custom Crush Facilities
Spray Adjuvants
Analyses In Winemaking
Weed Management
Grape Growing Practices
Integrated Weed Management
Vine Planting

What if you could hang out with experienced grape growers, ask them about the science of grape growing, vineyard operations, and more; then take an insight or two to improve your vineyard and ultimately the quality of the wines you produce? That's what we do each week on the Vineyard Underground. Hosted by Fritz Westover –– viticulture expert more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard indust... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes113Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Vineyard Underground

Latest Episodes

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 resilien... more

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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 viney... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

Leading microbial ecologist from UC San Diego, Dr. Jack Gilbert joins us to talk about how soil and management decisions shape the vine and wine microbiome. We start by defining what a microbiome is in plain vineyard terms, and Dr. Gilbert explains h... more

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Recent Guests

Oliver Trapp
Head of grapevine breeding at the Julius Kühn Institute, specializing in climate-adapted, fungus-resistant PIWI varieties.
Julius Kühn Institute
Episode: 112: Spray Less: How PIWI Varieties Combat Fungal Disease and Build Vineyard Resilience with Dr. Oliver Trapp
Julie Urban
Associate Research Professor of Entomology at Penn State studying planthoppers and spotted lanternfly
Penn State
Episode: 110: A Decade with the Spotted Lanternfly - Are We Now in Control with Dr. Julie Urban
Jack A. Gilbert
Microbial ecologist, UC San Diego professor, Earth Microbiome Project co-founder and author
University of California San Diego
Episode: 109: How Vineyard Decisions Impact the Wine Microbiome with Dr. Jack Gilbert
Kendra Baumgartner
Retired USDA research plant pathologist and vineyard consultant.
Next Vintage Consulting
Episode: 107: Is It Time to Pull the Block - Assessing Decline in Older Vines with Dr Kendra Baumgartner
Shiraz Mottiar
Team Principal and GM for Malivoir Wine Company
Malivoir Wine Company
Episode: 106: 3 Sustainability Practices Every Vineyard Can Implement with Shiraz Mottiar
Dr. Mark Krasnow
Thoughtful Viticulture Consulting, Marlborough, New Zealand
Thoughtful Viticulture Consulting
Episode: 103: Distinguishing Real Vine Stressors from Imagined Ones with Dr. Mark Krasnow
Thijs Verschuuren
Viticulturist at Herman J. Weimer (Demeter Biodynamic Certification)
Herman J. Wiemer
Episode: 102: Baby Steps Towards Biodynamics & Organic Growing Practices - Part 2 with Thijs Verschuuren
Katie Gold
Dr. Katie Gold, Assistant Professor of Grape Pathology, Cornell University
Cornell University
Episode: 099: Compatibility Test – How Do Biologicals Fit Into Your Spray Program with Katie Gold & Dave Combs
Dave Combs
Dave Combs, Research and Extension Support Specialist, Cornell University
Cornell University
Episode: 099: Compatibility Test – How Do Biologicals Fit Into Your Spray Program with Katie Gold & Dave Combs

Host

Fritz Westover
Host of the show; viticulturist with 20+ years in the vineyard industry

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 181 ratings
  • Practical info for all growers

    Always a fun listen, and super informative! I enjoy the wide range of guests and perspectives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jarring 365466
    United States7 months ago
  • Very informative for Okanagan Valley

    Loved the stuff on biologicals

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Echo Ridge Wines
    Canada2 years ago
  • The best vineyard podcast

    This show is one of the best resources for viticulturists and wine enthusiasts who want to learn more about the vineyard. I recommend it to everyone I know in the industry!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    420xxTH0T_B0Ixx69
    United States2 years ago
  • Very Helpful

    I have been drinking from a fire hose for the past yr learning how to manage a vineyard. Every episode has been helpful. I listen on the tractor or in the cellar. The steep learning curve is less steep after listening to this show. Thank you tons!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    W_A15
    United States2 years ago
  • Awesome podcast!

    Fritz is so knowledgeable about viticulture and has educated and interesting guests on his show! This is a must listen for anyone interested in viticulture and enology. We are grape growers and are members of his academy too, Fritz is top notch!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sjnxksifxj
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Growers appreciate diverse, high-quality guest insights and field-tested strategies.
Listeners praise practical, easy-to-apply vineyard advice that translates science into real-world steps.
The host's clear explanations and energetic delivery make complex viticulture topics accessible to practitioners.
Audiences value the podcast as a reliable ongoing resource for staying current with industry practices.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

112: Spray Less: How PIWI Varieties Combat Fungal Disease and Build Vineyard Resilience with Dr. Oliver Trapp
Q: What can growers do to build consumer acceptance of new varieties?
Trapp suggests starting with small plantings, introducing the wines in blends, and then offering a varietally labeled wine as growers gain experience. Direct sales give producers a chance to explain the wines to consumers, while unfamiliar varieties may be harder to sell through supermarkets.
112: Spray Less: How PIWI Varieties Combat Fungal Disease and Build Vineyard Resilience with Dr. Oliver Trapp
Q: What are the factors driving this increased demand and interest in disease-resistant grape varieties?
Traditional vinifera varieties require many fungicide treatments, while PIWI varieties can substantially reduce fungicide use. They can lower costs and environmental impact, respond to public and regulatory pressure to reduce pesticide use, and help growers adapt to changing climate and disease conditions.
110: A Decade with the Spotted Lanternfly - Are We Now in Control with Dr. Julie Urban
Q: Is there an edge effect that's being observed now that you're moving into vineyards? Can we think of in these same terms in terms of strategy for edge treatments for spotted lanternfly?
Urban says the research is seeing edge effects, so targeted edge treatments may help, but lanternflies can spread through the vineyard and eventually lay eggs in its interior.
110: A Decade with the Spotted Lanternfly - Are We Now in Control with Dr. Julie Urban
Q: How can this insect directly cause harm through this phloem feeding? Is it actually going to weaken the vigor?
Urban says feeding disrupts resource allocation in grapevines, affects water flow, and depletes the carbohydrate reserves stored in roots for overwinter survival.
107: Is It Time to Pull the Block - Assessing Decline in Older Vines with Dr Kendra Baumgartner
Q: If a grower wants to go into an aging block, where do they start? What observations matter the most?
Baumgartner walks the rows, tallies missing and symptomatic vines, checks for persistent viruses and potentially retrainable trunk disease, and samples for nematodes and root problems. She uses those findings to distinguish vines that are beyond recovery from those worth retraining or treating.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Vineyard Underground

What is Vineyard Underground about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, field-focused exploration of viticulture and vineyard operations, with conversations that mix hands-on management tactics, science-based insights, and real-world case studies. Expect in-depth discussions on soil health, irrigation, nutrient management, disease and pest control, and the economics of sustainable grape growing, often anchored by guest experts and growers sharing concrete workflows and testable approaches. This show distinguishes itself through its hands-on tone, emphasis on actionable steps, and a strong ability to translate research into workable practices for both new and seasoned vineyard teams.

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Which podcasts are similar to Vineyard Underground?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Vineyard Underground:

1. Sustainable Winegrowing
2. Inside Winemaking - the art and science of growing grapes and crafting wine
3. SOMM TV wine & food
4. GuildSomm Podcast
5. Wine 101

How many episodes of Vineyard Underground are there?

Vineyard Underground launched 4 years ago and published 113 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Vineyard Underground?

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What guests have appeared on Vineyard Underground?

Recent guests on Vineyard Underground include:

1. Oliver Trapp
2. Julie Urban
3. Jack A. Gilbert
4. Kendra Baumgartner
5. Shiraz Mottiar
6. Dr. Mark Krasnow
7. Thijs Verschuuren
8. Katie Gold

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