Sustainable Farming Educational Resources

Healthy soils are built through years of management decisions and sometimes rethinking old practices. Jim Lincoln (Beckstoffer Vineyards) shares how his weed management strategy evolved from cultivation and herbicides to mowing, sheep grazing, cover crops, and no-till practices. Learn how improving under-vine soil health can influence costs, vineyard resilience, and fruit quality, and hear the real-world tradeoffs that come with making the change.

Growers rarely taste the wine made from their grapes. At Hope Family Wines, Stasi Seay uses annual tastings to help them connect their farming decisions to what’s in the glass.

Microbats can be voracious insect predators, but vineyard structure may limit how far they venture into a block. Matt Fowles (Fowles Wine) shares how observations of moth pressure inspired vertical structures that support microbat echolocation, with early trials showing increased bat activity and potential for natural vineyard pest control.

Social media keeps changing, but wineries can stay relevant with a focused strategy. Heather Daenitz (Craft & Cluster) shares practical advice on Instagram Stories, audience engagement, searchable content, authentic video, and content series that help wineries connect with wine consumers.

Discover the science behind why we like what we like. Zata Vickers (University of Minnesota) reveals how repeated exposure, positive experiences, and carefully chosen words can shape the way people experience wine.