Napa, CA (October 9, 2023) – The Napa Valley Grapegrowers announces ROOTSTOCK 2023, to be held on November 6 and 7 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. This year’s event will focus on a central theme: weed management in the vineyard.
Though weed management in the vineyard is an integral part of the vineyard management system, there is mounting pressure to adapt farming methods to navigate public perceptions. And, as Napa Valley growers continue to strive for viticultural excellence, employing innovative best practices is paramount to increasing quality and sustainability in our vineyards.
ROOTSTOCK 2023 is open to the public, and the Napa Valley Grapegrowers hopes the focused format will inspire discussions in an open and collaborative manner. This year’s highlights include:
- Understanding the public’s perspective on herbicides with, “Children of the Vine” director, Brian Lilla
- Review of Napa County herbicide trends with Sarah Ferguson, CEO and co-founder of Ruetd
- The history of herbicide use in vineyards and agriculture with Dr. Scott Steinmaus, PhD, head of plant sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- A wine business case study with Ivo Jeramaz, winemaker and vice president of vineyards and production, Grgich Hills Estate
- Continuing Education Seminars (1 professional development and 2 integrated pest management CEU credits)
- Napa County regulatory review of pesticides with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
- Sustainable pest management – a roadmap for California with Nan Singhasemanon, assistant director, Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Integrated weed management – identification, control, and innovative alternatives with John Roncoroni, weed science farm advisor, Emeritus, UC Cooperative Extension
Who should attend: Viticulturists, vineyard managers, winemakers, enologists, vineyard and winery owners, students, and community members interested in learning more about weed management in the vineyard.
Single-day and two-day ROOTSTOCK tickets can be purchased online on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers website.
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers hosted its first symposium and exhibition, the Napa Valley Viticultural Fair, in 1990. Now, over three decades later, ROOTSTOCK has evolved beyond a tradeshow format, yet carries on the tradition of delivering top quality education and resources to the wine industry.
About Napa Valley Grapegrowers
For nearly 50 years, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class viticultural region. Its mission is to cultivate viticultural excellence and environmental stewardship for the Napa Valley, and it represents 685 Napa County grape growers and associated businesses. For more information, visit Napa Valley Grapegrowers and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
