The Virginia wine industry has experienced a phenomenal transformation over the past three decades, largely attributed to the efforts of dedicated individuals like Dr. Tony Wolf. From a mere six wineries in 1980, Virginia now boasts a $1.5 billion industry with over 300 wineries.

In this episode, Dr. Wolf discusses what it was like when the wine industry began in Virginia in the 1980s, what challenges growers faced, and where they saw success.

Listen in to learn how grape growing has become a booming industry over the past 30 years.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The challenges Virginia grape growers faced in the 1980s.

• How Dr. Wolf impacted the wine industry in Virginia.

• The growth of canopy management practices, especially VSP.

• What makes vineyards successful in any location.

• What Dr. Wolf would tell himself 25 years ago.

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Resources:

If you have questions about today’s episode or ideas for future episodes, go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

If you’re starting a vineyard or thinking about starting a vineyard, visit VirtualViticulureAcademy.com/growsmart to get Fritz’s online Prospective Winegrape Grower Course to help you get your vineyard planned and planted correctly from the start. Use the code PODCAST at check out to save $89.00 as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

See the photos of the surprise gift Tony put in the accordion case.

Today’s Guest:

Dr. Tony Wolf recently retired from a 36-year-long career at Virginia Tech, where he served as a professor of viticulture and the head of the school’s agricultural extension and research center.

Episode Sponsor:

Thank you to our friends over at SensorInsight for sponsoring today’s episode. SensorInsight is a leader in vineyard soil moisture and weather monitoring. SensorInsight designs state-of-the-art, remote satellite monitoring of soil moisture and weather, bringing actionable information for your vineyard operations straight to your phone, with real-time data so you can best decide when to turn on your irrigation, how long to run the system, and learn how the dynamics of soil moisture can change over a given season. Visit them today at https://sensorinsight.io. And don’t forget to mention the code Underground to receive a discount on your SensorInsight solution.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.