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6 WINES&VINES March 2016 A member of Wine Communications Group Inc. ADVERTISING Vice President and Director of Sales Jacques Brix jbrix@winesandvines.com (707) 473-0244 West Lydia Hall lydia@winesandvines.com (415) 453-9700, ext. 103 Midwest Hooper Jones hooperhja@aol.com (847) 486-1021 East (except New York) Laura Lemos laura@boja.com (973) 822-9274 New York and International Dave Bayard dave@bayard.com (973) 822-9275 Advertising Manager Christina Ballinger ads@winesandvines.com DIGITAL EDITION All print subscribers now get digital access to Wines & Vines. You can: • DOWNLOAD pages or full issues • BROWSE current and archived issues • WATCH videos • ACCESS via desktop, tablet or smartphone • SEARCH by keyword or table of contents • NAVIGATE by topic or page thumbnail • QUESTIONS? Contact customer ser- vice at custserv@winesandvines.com or (866) 453-9701 Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT. WINERY & VINEYARD EQUIPMENT 34 WINES& Find the right sensor for your vineyard CONNECT WITH US CONTRIBUTORS Richard Carey, Ph.D., is a winemaker, winemaking consultant and former owner of Tamanend Winery in Lancaster, Pa. He is also an in- tellectually curious individual who applied that inquisitiveness when faced with a stuck fermentation (see page 28). Carey got the ferment started again, but he was interested in the microbiological underpin- nings of his approach, so he dug into literature. What he found about the effects of bacteria on yeast should help a lot of winemakers to better think through the next stuck fermentation they encounter. Laurie Daniel in 2016 celebrates her 10th year as a regular contribu- tor to Wines & Vines. Her specialty is Q&A interviews with prominent and innovative winemakers and grapegrowers. For this issue Daniel interviewed grapegrower and winery owner Markus Bokisch of Lodi, Calif. (see page 40). Bokisch is known for his interest in Spanish and Portuguese varieties as well as his envelope-pushing vineyard practices. Stan Grant is a consultant working mainly with grapegrowers and vineyards in the northern interior of California (Lodi–Delta–Sierra Foothills) and the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. His article in this issue (see page 46) covers mineral nutrient interactions in vineyard soils and grapevines. Progressive Viticulture, his consulting company, was founded in 2000. Previously, Grant was director of farming at Duarte Nursery and viticulturist with Gallo Vineyards. He studied soil science and viticulture at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a master's degree in soil science. WINESANDVINES.COM MARCH 2016 Soil Sensors Vital for Irrigation Lodi Grower Talks Technology Terroir and Other Myths FROM THE GROUND UP EASTERN WINERY EXPO ISSUE ON THE COVER In this month's cover image, a technician installs a soil moisture sensor from Decagon Devices Inc. in the root zone of a vineyard. Wines & Vines senior editor Andrew Adams researched these important vineyard tools and details two types in the Product Focus article starting on page 34. QUESTION FOR MARCH: How do you prepare your vineyard for the growing season? Ben Byczynski Director of vineyards and grower relations Fetzer Vineyards Hopland, Calif. In winter and early spring, we graze sheep to control weeds and contribute lively activity in otherwise dormant vineyards. In spring, we apply a Biodynamic field spray before disking to maximize soil- building properties. Immediately thereafter, we incorporate the cover crop. Dean Scott Owner, Bergeist Vineyard Vineyard manager, Folino Estate Vineyard Kutztown, Pa. In February I have gone through and rough cut 90% of the vine growth that I want to remove. The first two weeks in March I like to go back in and remove two or three extra buds and tape up loose shoots to the fruiting wire. I also like to rake out any dead weeds between the vines. Emiliano Castanon Vineyard manager Michael David Winery Lodi, Calif. There are many field activities that take place during late winter and early spring when the weather permits. We commonly begin pruning, tying, trellis repair as well as groundwork and weed spraying. Being able to appropriately time field activities around the weather is essential for efficiency and quality.