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TE CHNOL OG Y Delay water as long as you can ccording to Dr. Mark Greenspan of Advanced Viticulture, vineyard managers should delay irrigation as long as possible, especially in areas of high winter rainfall. "Vine roots are very ephemeral in that they emerge and die or go dormant in a relatively short amount of time," he says. "Drip irrigation tends to shift the rooting patterns from the natural rain-fed state into a confined soil volume, thus adding potential nutrient and water stress on the vines." A (PMI), for example, from an electronic dashboard and specify that the application alert him via text message when the index approaches an unacceptable level. "In 2010 it rained during the spring," Gates says. "It was a good year for ripen- ing and powdery mildew." Gates manages four ranches on Monte Bello Ridge that range between 1,600 and 3,600 feet above sea level. Early in the season he could spray the lower vineyard, which can sit in the fog every seven to 10 days while spraying the vines in the upper vineyard every 14 days. "As long as I have access to the Inter- net," he says, "I can punch up the PMI module from my laptop or desktop com- puter, and Ranch Systems alerts me when crew members need to spray the vineyard." Whether the vineyard team is tracking field or atmospheric conditions, Ranch Systems' and Fruition Sciences' web-based tools can help shape the harvest. "Vineyard managers make irrigation decisions continuously during the season, so a continuous stream of measurements using radio telemetry is the best way to support those decisions," says Mark Greenspan from Advanced Viticulture. "Whether measuring sap flow, gathering weather data or gauging soil moisture, actual patterns of change can provide tremendous insight into the water balance of the vineyard." Thomas Ulrich has written about science and technology for several magazines and newspapers. He wrote a story about optical sorters for the January 2011 issue of Wines & Vines. He teaches journalism at San Jose State University. Wines & Vines JULY 2011 33 Devoted grape grower seeks serious buyer Object: Supply the wine grapes or bulk wine you need Likes: Working in my vineyard; enjoying great Sonoma County wine with family and friends We can help you find your ideal match — the right grower for your needs, from those perfect Chardonnay or other grapes to quality bulk wine. Who knows, it could lead to a rewarding long-term relationship. Get to know our grape growers at SonomaWineGrape.org. Need grapes? Find the grapes or bulk wine you want, in one central location, any- time, day or night at the Sonoma County Grape Marketplace: SonomaWineGrape.org/marketplace Looking for a perfect match?