Adapting to a Changing Climate: Tools and Resources to Increase Vineyard Resilience and Reduce Vineyard Carbon Footprints

Climate change poses significant challenges for vineyards, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, increased risk for flooding and drought, increases in pest and disease pressure and changes in wildfire dynamics. However, winegrape growers have tools available to help manage these impacts and to create resilient vineyards. For instance, many sustainable winegrowing practices can address impacts – from cover crops that help protect soil from extreme weather events to irrigation technologies that maximize limited water resources.

Panelists will share what is known about the challenges created by climate change, and how they are addressing some of the challenges within their own vineyards. It will cover how to better prepare vineyards to adapt to potential impacts, and how vineyards can help be part of the climate solution. By understanding a vineyard’s carbon footprint, vineyards can be managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester more carbon, all while building resiliency. While climate change brings new challenges, winegrape growers will learn that using both familiar and new tools and practices, along with available resources, they can reduce the risk and ensure their vineyards can thrive in a changing environment.

Moderator:
Allison Jordan, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance & Wine Institute

Speakers:
Nick Filice, Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars, California
John Heckman, University of Colorado, Boulder
Steve McIntyre, Monterey Pacific, California