UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology: State of the Grape

Please join us at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Hay Barn for a wine grape grower and consultant panel on the 2024 season (weather, yields, quality, diseases and pests). Speakers will also discuss how current vineyard growing techniques influence wine flavor, with a focus on soil health and canopy management.

Hear from members of the wine grape community who grow on the Central Coast and practice a range of viticulture methods including organic, regenerative, and sustainable vineyard management and winemaking.

Panelist Speakers include:

• Prudy Foxx, Foxx Viticulture, organic, vineyard to the bottle
• Abbey Crystal, Ken Swegles, Cole Thomas – Skyline Vit consulting, Madson wines
• Kelly Mulville, Paicines ranch, regenerative viticulture in San Benito County
• Steve and Pam Storrs, Storrs winery, organic and regenerative

Additionally, the UCSC Center for Agroecology is exploring the development of an organic vineyard and potentially a campus-linked winery where UCSC can be the site of hands-on educational experiences and applied research to support the development of efficient and sustainable organic viticulture techniques in coastal vineyards.

To support the planning of this initiative we recently sent out an online survey to grower and winery members of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Janet C. ”Jenny” Broome, Assistant Adjunct Professor for the UCSC Environmental Studies Department and Center for Agroecology, will discuss the results of this survey: “Summary of the recent fall 2024 Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Grape Growers and Wineries Research Needs Survey.”

The event will finish with a wine tasting of local wines made from vineyards employing a range of management practices. Come sip and share your thoughts.

Presented by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden. Members receive a 10% discount on workshop costs. Learn more about becoming a member and sign up at: https://agroecology.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join-the-friends/index.html

The event will take place on Saturday, December 7th, from 2 to 5pm, and will meet at the Hay Barn. Must be 21 or over to attend.