Legal oversights can cost wine brands dearly, but with the right guidance, many are entirely preventable. Lindsey Zahn, Managing Partner of Lindsey Zahn P.C. Alcoholic Beverage Law Firm, breaks down the top four legal pitfalls wineries and wine brands must avoid. From building solid contracts and understanding who owns what, to navigating TTB labeling rules, producing non-alcoholic wines, and staying compliant with social media advertising laws, this episode arms you with practical knowledge to reduce risk and protect your business from penalties.

Resources:

• 187: Labor and Employment Law Tips from a Lawyer
• Code of Federal Regulations - Food Labeling
• Code of Federal Regulations – Labeling and Advertising of Wine
• Dealcoholized Wine and Malt Beverages - Labeling
• Guidance for Industry: Food Labeling Guide
• Lindsey Zahn

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Sustainable, Seriously
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The Premiere Winegrowing Event
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Foxen and Niner show impactful ways to weave generosity into everyday business.

As you plan for 2026, think about the unique ways your brand can meaningfully engage with your local community. Then, share your team's participation, spotlight the organizations you support, and tell the stories that highlight your values.

Resources:

*** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course ***

Apply for SIP Certified Wine

Likely Story Strategies

Marketing Tips eNewsletter

Sustainable Story Worksheet

Vineyard Team Programs:

Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate

SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet

Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year

Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Rising temperatures and erratic weather accelerate ripening, spread disease faster, and shift sugar, alcohol, and acidity levels. All of which threaten wine quality and style.

At Geisenheim University, Dr. Manfred Stoll is testing "vitivoltaics": semi-transparent, trackable solar panels installed above vines. The system moderates heat, radiation, and extreme weather, while improving young vine establishment and water infiltration. Beyond the vineyard, this renewable energy can power everything from irrigation pumps to EV charging stations for wine tasting guests.

Resources:

• 281: How Rootstock Impacts Vine Drought Tolerance and Longevity
• 283: Developing Cold-Hardy Grapes with 23andMe Technology
• Agrivoltaics in the Vineyard
• Agrivoltaics in wine growing areas
• Are These Smart Solar Panels the Future of Sustainable Vineyards?
• Assessing the economic performance of agrivoltaic systems in vineyards - framework development, simulated scenarios and directions for future research
• Grape Growth and Berry Development Under the Agrivoltaic System in Vineyards
• Manfred Stoll
• Soaking Up the Sun: Agrivoltaics Build Resiliency into Producers' Operations in Rio Grande Valley

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Will hybrid grapes help vineyards survive climate change? Professor Karine Pedneault of the Université du Québec en Outaouais explores this question through trials that expose grapevines to drought and heat stress. Testing both vinifera and hybrid varieties, her research measured plant water flow and metabolic responses to determine resilience. While hybrids still carry a stigma around flavor, they showed promising resistance, raising the potential to reduce fungicide use by up to half and adapt more sustainably to extreme weather scenarios.

Resources:

• 223: New Decision Support System for Irrigation Efficiency
• 213: High Resolution Data from Space Helps Farmers Plan for Climate Change
• Karine Pedneault
• Karine Pedneault – Google Scholar
• Karine Pedneault - Instagram
• Karine Pedneault - LinkedIn
• Karine Pedneault – Research Gate
• Metabolic response of vitis vinifera and interspecific vitis sp. varieties to heat stress, water deficit and combined stress, using a metabolomic approach
• The organic vineyard as a balanced ecosystem: Improved organic grape management and impacts on wine quality

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

With fungicide resistance on the rise, grape growers are looking for new ways to manage powdery mildew. Lexi McDaniel, Viticulture Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, explores the science behind using UVC light to combat this grapevine disease by directly disrupting the DNA bonds needed for replication. She shares insights from her trials, including why the light must be applied at night, how often it needs to pass through the vineyard, and how this technique compares to traditional fungicide programs in both cost and effectiveness.

Resources:

• 117: Grapevine Mildew Control with UV Light
• 197: Managing the Sour Rot Disease Complex in Grapes
• 219: Intelligent Sprayers to Improve Fungicide Applications and Save Money
• 235: Battling Fungicide Resistance with Glove Sampling
• 266: Soft Pesticide Trial: Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Botrytis, and Sour Rot
• Field-Scale Ultraviolet-C Light Applications to Manage Grapevine Powdery Mildew
• Grapevine Powery Mildew UV-C Information
• Introducing UVC applications for powdery mildew control in grapevines
• Lexie McDaniel
• North Carolina State Extension
• Ultraviolet-C (UVC) Light Can Be a Powerful Tool Against Grapevine Powdery Mildew

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Terms like "regenerative," "climate‑smart," and "social equity" aren't just buzzwords—they're the building blocks of sustainable winegrowing. Learn wine brands protect soil, reduce energy use, and support people, all while producing high-quality wine.

Resources:

• *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course ***
• Apply for SIP Certified Wine
• Likely Story Strategies
• Marketing Tips eNewsletter
• Sustainable Story Worksheet
  • Print
  • Electronic

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is more than a nuisance, it poses a serious risk to vineyards. Brian Walsh, Extension Educator and Spotted Lanternfly Researcher with Penn State Extension, explains how this invasive insect threatens grapes across the eastern U.S. From unusual egg-laying behavior to honeydew-covered canopies that attract stinging insects, Walsh explores why vineyards are especially at risk and how growers can prepare during peak pressure in September. Learn about insecticide options, biocontrol efforts, and scouting strategies—whether SLF is in your area or not.

Resources:

• 96: Spotted Lanternfly - Threat to California
• 175: How to Prepare for Invasive Pests in Your Vineyard
• An Introduction to the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly:Webinar on April 21, 2023
• Brian Walsh
• Research Update of Spotted Lanternfly in Grape: Webinar on March 9, 2022
• Spotted Lantern Fly
• Spotted Lanternfly Management in Vineyards
• Spotted Lanternfly Management for Landscape Professionals

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year – Discount Code PODCAST25
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

64% of consumers say sustainability is a top purchasing factor—even during inflation. But how do you turn that intent into action? Learn how to close the "aspiration-action gap" by proudly promoting your sustainable certifications and showing customers your commitment to responsible practices.

Resources:

• *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course ***
• Apply for SIP Certified Wine
• Likely Story Strategies
• Marketing Tips eNewsletter
• Sustainable Story Worksheet
  • Print
  • Electronic

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Dry farming is more than just skipping irrigation—it's a deliberate practice that starts with soil stewardship. Lauryn Leeds Pesch of Chavez & Leeds Family Vineyards and Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting shares her deep-rooted knowledge in dry farming, a technique that relies solely on stored winter and spring rainfall to meet a vine's needs. Learn about a $2M research initiative with the Department of Water Resources exploring water conservation in coastal California vineyards, the 5-step cultivation process, and how a new mapping tool can help you find and learn from neighboring dry-farmed vineyards.

Resources:

• 151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health
• 153: The Role of Nematodes in Soil Health
• 171: How to Farm Wine Grapes for Climate Change
• 177: The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Paul Schreiner
• 181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use?
• California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative
• California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative Dry Farming
• Dry Farming in Coastal California Vineyards Project
• Lauren Leeds Pesch Instagram @calidryfarming
• Lauren Leeds Pesch LinkedIn

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year – Discount Code PODCAST25
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Can no-till really work in low-rainfall, compaction-prone soils? Taylor Jones, Director of Viticulture at Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards in Santa Barbara, California shares insights from an 8-year vineyard floor trial comparing till vs. no-till practices. From vine vigor to soil health, microbial life to tractor fuel savings, Taylor reveals surprising data and offers practical advice for growers considering a shift in floor management.

Resources:

• 262: A Vineyard Research Site to Study Soil Health
• 253: Regenerative Agriculture: The Path the Climate Change Resilience?
• 211: Vineyard Nutrient Management Across the United States
• California Department of Food and Agriculture's Healthy Soils Initiative
• Healthy Soils Playlist
• Taylor Jones | LinkedIn

Vineyard Team Programs:

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member