Viticulture X Games: Extreme Weather Winegrowing (CEUs available*)
January 23, 2024
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Viticulture X Games: Extreme Weather Winegrowing (CEUs available*)
The wine industry across the globe is experiencing an increasing number and frequency of devastating extreme weather events, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, heat domes, earthquakes, frosts, spring freezes, windstorms, and droughts.
We will briefly commiserate over the wildest examples of wine region weather disasters then invite a panel of practitioners to discuss, with audience participation, how we can best prepare for and respond to these chaotic conditions with energy and strength. Nearly all climate talks focus on building resiliency into our vineyards, but we’re adding an important missing piece: how to build resiliency in ourselves, our employees, and our wine regions. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
*Session receives 1.5 hours Crop CCA CEU: Climate Effects on Production Agriculture.
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Moderator
Stephanie Bolton
Organization:
Lodi Winegrape Commission, California
Sessions:
Dr. Stephanie Bolton leads the Grower Research, Education, & Communications initiatives, plus the LODI RULES Sustainable Winegrowing Program, at the Lodi Winegrape Commission, an organization representing 750 growers farming around 90,000 acres of winegrapes. Stephanie brings to the table proven team organizational leadership, a high level of motivation and passion to discover both short- and long-term solutions for the farming families she adores, and an innate ability to creatively open communication channels between growers, scientists, and relative industry personnel. In 2023 she was selected as a Nuffield International Farming Scholar, a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Honoree, and a Wine Business Monthly Industry Leader.
Speakers
Ben Kolber
Organization:
KG Vineyard Management LLC, California
Ben Kolber, owner of KG Vineyard Management, offers custom farming services and vineyard management in the Lodi area and beyond for over twenty years. He has been active in the farming community as a past Lodi winegrape commissioner, past wine marketing committee chair, and currently serves on CAWG, Lodi District Grape Growers Association and multiple reclamation districts in the Delta.
Mark Krstic
Organization:
Australian Wine Research Institute
Dr. Mark Krstic is the Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). He has more than 25 years of experience in grape and wine research, development and extension in prior roles within the AWRI, the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, Victorian Government and CSIRO. Mark is also an Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University. He chairs the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference Inc. and is on the Boards of the National Wine Foundation and the South Australian Genomics Centre. Mark is also a past President of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology and graduate of the Wine Industry Future Leaders Program.
Misty Oebel
Organization:
Michigan State University Extension, Isabella County
Misty Oebel is a Health and Farm Stress Educator with Michigan State University Extension. The Managing Farm Stress program is committed to providing education about the warning signs of stress and suicide risk for farmers and offers connections to resources like teletherapy. She provides support as part of a statewide initiative.
Prior to joining MSU Extension, Misty worked as a Family Therapist with teens and families in the foster care system. In this role, she worked with individuals and families in crisis to identify and develop support systems and healthy coping skills. Misty has a master’s degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis on clinical applications.