By Pam Strayer in Grape and Wine Magazine
In depth article about the transition to regenerative viticulture by RVF trustee Caine Thompson of Robert Hall Winery
How to make your vineyard more resilient to climate change We are entering an era where climate patterns no longer follow predictable cycles. Temperatures continue to rise, rainfall becomes erratic, and weather events grow more violent and frequent. Climate adaptation and climate change resilience are becoming urgent challenges for wine growers. The new normal is…
Canavera et al. (2026, Environmental Microbiome), Piacenza (Italy), found that cover crop–derived under-vine mulching in a non-irrigated vineyard significantly increased rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial diversity while improving soil conditions and reducing pathogen pressure. Headline Findings: Methods: Conducted in a non-irrigated vineyard in northern Italy.Compared three inter-row management systems: In spring, cover crops were terminated and…
In a 2026 study published in Field Crops Research based on Mediterranean rainfed vineyards, the authors found that roller-crimping cover crops improved soil cover, vine water status, yield (in wetter conditions), and mycorrhizal colonization without affecting grape quality, while seasonal climate was the dominant driver of fungal diversity. Headline Findings: Methods: Results: Read the original…
In a 2026 study led by Emanuela Granata and colleagues in organic orchards and vineyards in northern Italy, researchers found that artificial nest boxes effectively support insect-eating cavity-nesting birds and may improve natural pest control when combined with diverse landscape features. Headline Findings: Methods: Results: Read the original study here.
In a 2026 study by María José Marqués and colleagues, conducted across semiarid vineyards and olive groves in central Spain, decade-long cover cropping significantly improved soil water-holding capacity and overall soil health resilience under Mediterranean dryland farming conditions. Headline Findings: Methods: Compared long-term cover-cropped fields with conventionally managed bare-soil controls in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards and…
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