Planting a vineyard is a major investment, and the decisions made before the first vine goes into the ground can determine long-term success or costly failure. In this episode, Fritz sits down with renowned viticulture expert Dr. Mark Greenspan to unpack the most common red flags vineyard owners and operators should watch for when planning a new planting.

Drawing on more than three decades of scientific research and hands-on field experience, Dr. Greenspan explains why many vineyard problems originate long before planting day. Fritz and Dr. Greenspan also discuss the dangers of relying on assumptions or neighboring vineyard performance instead of site-specific data and professional evaluation.

Listeners will learn why thorough pre-plant assessments — including soil testing, climate analysis, and thoughtful rootstock and variety selection — are essential risk management tools rather than optional steps. This episode is especially valuable for growers considering new vineyard development, replanting existing blocks, or expanding acreage. By understanding these early warning signs, listeners can make more informed decisions, avoid expensive mistakes, and set their vineyards up for sustainable productivity and profitability.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Common red flags that signal potential vineyard failure before planting

• Why site-specific soil and climate data matter more than assumptions

• Risks of poor variety and rootstock selection

• The long-term cost of cutting corners during vineyard planning

• Practical steps to reduce risk and improve vineyard performance

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Resources:

Register for Fritz's FREE live virtual pruning event, Snip Happens: Pruning Mistakes & Fixes on January 29th at noon Central, and make sure you and your team can spot, fix, and avoid pruning mistakes this season.

If you're starting a vineyard or thinking about starting a vineyard, visit VirtualViticulureAcademy.com/growsmart to get Fritz's online Prospective Winegrape Grower Course to help you get your vineyard planned and planted correctly from the start. Use the code PODCAST at checkout to save $89.00 as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

If you have questions about today's episode or ideas for future episodes, go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

Today's Guest:

Mark Greenspan is a viticulture expert with 3 decades of scientific, technical, and field experience. He is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg), and licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA) in California and the founder of Advanced Viticulture, a leading vineyard services company in California.

Learn more about Advanced Viticulture or connect with Mark:

https://advancedvit.com/

https://www.instagram.com/advanced_viticulture/

Episode Sponsor:

Today's episode was brought to you by HydroGeo Environmental and Bahco Tools.

Thank you to HydroGeo Environmental for sponsoring today's episode. For over 20 years, Bubba Beasley and his team have helped vineyard growers with site assessments, mapping, soil and groundwater evaluations, and optimal vineyard layouts. Using the latest technology and industry expertise, HydroGeo brings clarity to even the most complex landscapes. Visit HydroGeoEnvironmental.com and mention the Vineyard Underground podcast for a special discount on your service.

Thank you to Bahco Tools for sponsoring today's episode. As innovators for more than 165 years, Bahco has introduced the most advanced tools in the world, and Bahco products are manufactured in factories across Europe. I exclusively prune with the Bahco ERGO™ Bypass Secateurs with Elastomer Coated Fixed Handle (size medium). Visit www.bahco.com/int_en to find a dealer near you to get the best pruning tools on the market, along with loppers, hedging tools, cutting blades, files, and more.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.