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By: Melissa Webb, Vice President, Relation - Agro Crop Insurance Agency
It’s my duty and pleasure to keep the NVG members informed on important updates that could impact your bottom line. The federal crop insurance program is a key risk management tool we recommend you look into for your vineyard operation. These programs are designed to protect you from weather events and perils that could impact your yield through the growing season, at a subsidized cost to you. Upcoming Policy Deadlines Grapevine Insurance – November 1st Now available in 35 counties, this new program offers vineyard growers protection against vine loss due to fire, flood, freeze, failure of irrigation water supply due to drought, and hail. This is a separate coverage from the grape crop insurance policy and is specifically for vine mortality. The deadline to insure your vineyard for 2025 is November 1st, 2024 and coverage begins December 1st, 2024. Grape Insurance – January 31st This program provides coverage for yield losses caused by all naturally occurring perils (adverse weather, fire and smoke, failure of irrigation due to natural peril, etc.) The policy utilizes your individual growing records to establish the coverage. The deadline to insure your grapes is January 31st and coverage begins February 1st.
Whole Farm Revenue Protection – February 28th This highly subsidized federal policy offers you revenue protection for farm revenue declines including market price decline. Coverage is broken out by farming entity, not by specific crops, and covers you for losses in revenue due to naturally occurring events that impact your yield and/or market price for your commodities. This policy utilizes your individual tax records (Schedule F), yield data, and potential contract prices to establish the revenue to be insured. The deadline to insure your farming revenue is February 28th. Please reach out to Melissa Webb if you have any questions.
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 Last week, we had the privilege of joining the team at Inglenook in Rutherford for a behind-the-scenes look at the harvest season. Over ten hospitality professionals gathered to hear from Enrique Herro, Director of Vineyards, about the critical role of harvest in winemaking. We learned about the history of Inglenook, a stunning 1,700-acre estate nestled in the heart of Rutherford. Our tour took us to a sun-drenched vineyard block where skilled crews were expertly harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon. Sr. Associate Winemaker, Jonathan Tyer, shared his insights on the key qualities he seeks in grapes before giving the green light to pick. He emphasized that exceptional wines begin in the vineyard and that the quality of the grapes is paramount to producing estate wines. We concluded our visit with a tour of the new winery caves, featuring state-of-the-art tanks with automated pump-overs.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Seasonal Vineyard Walk and a special thanks to Inglenook for hosting us.  On October 4, 2024, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers are proud to participate in Leadership Napa Valley’s Ag Day, an annual event highlighting Napa Valley's agricultural sector. Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) is a premier leadership development program designed to inspire, connect, and cultivate diverse individuals committed to making a positive impact in the Napa Valley community. Ag Day is an integral part of this program, providing participants with an in-depth look at the region's agricultural heritage and current practices.
NVG will lead several key activities throughout the day. The event will kick off with a harvest ride-along led by Garrett Buckland of Premiere Viticulture, an NVG Board Director. This immersive experience will offer participants a unique, hands-on view of vineyard operations during harvest. Later in the day, Ted Hall of Long Meadow Ranch, a former NVG Board Director, will present on organic farming, emphasizing sustainable viticulture practices. Following this, Meghan Becker of In Vino Veritas, an NVG Board Director, will discuss the business of wine, covering the economics and market trends that shape Napa’s wine industry. NVG's involvement in Ag Day underscores our commitment to community education and encourages sustainable farming practices. Be sure to follow along on Instagram as we share highlights from Ag Day on October 4! We’re thrilled to announce that the Napa Valley Grapegrowers has been awarded two major grants, totaling over $240,000! This funding will support some of our most impactful programs and initiatives over the next several years, further strengthening our commitment to Napa Valley’s grape growers and the future of sustainable viticulture.
Below is an overview of the two grants we’ve just secured: Western Extension Risk Management Education Grant $75,000 (April 2024 – September 2025)
USDA Risk Management Agency Grant $168,000 (September 2024 – February 2026)
These resources will help propel Napa Valley forward, allowing us to continue driving innovation, education, and sustainable farming practices in our region. Most importantly, this funding amplifies the investment our grape growers make in NVG and our shared mission. A big thank you to Morrison for their assistance in our grant applications! As the 2024 harvest progresses, Napa Valley is witnessing a season marked by an early start, impressive grape quality, optimal weather conditions, and high labor availability. Despite these positives, growers are navigating significant challenges due to shifting market dynamics and economic pressures.
Exceptional Wine Quality Across Napa Valley, grape quality is turning out to be one of the highlights of the 2024 harvest. Growers are reporting excellent phenolic ripeness and balanced sugar levels, leading to ideal chemistry heading into the winery. The mild summer, punctuated by a brief but impactful Labor Day heat wave, accelerated the accumulation of sugars while allowing acids to develop steadily. As Matt Stornetta of Stornetta Made Farming explains, “the cooler weather is already helping the balance of sugars and acids.” The result is fruit that promises to produce complex, flavorful wines, which has already been reported as early fermentations yield their results. Many growers are optimistic that this year’s vintage will deliver standout wines, characterized by full flavor profiles and well-balanced structure. Weather Conditions Support Healthy Vineyard Development Weather has been a key factor in this year’s successful harvest. Unlike recent years marred by extreme heat or wildfires, 2024 has provided growers with near-ideal conditions for grape maturation. According to Chris D'Alo of Nord Vineyard Services, this season’s climate reminds him of 2018, another highly favorable vintage. Steady winter rainfall provided deep soil moisture and set the stage for strong canopies, resulting in yields well balanced with vegetative growth. July heat arrived while canopies still had access to adequate soil moisture, with most growers noting the cessation of shoot growth, along with a celebrated early end of their powdery mildew control programs. The persistent (and often reliable) heat over Labor Day did pose challenges for some vineyards, particularly in areas with shallower soil or with limited irrigation capacity. However, these effects have been isolated, and the majority of vineyards have bounced back, with D'Alo remaining optimistic: “The fruit flavor is excellent, and I do believe this vintage will produce some amazing wines.” Increased Labor Availability Eases Harvest Challenges A positive development this harvest season has been the increased availability of farmworkers, a significant change from the shortages experienced in recent years. Thanks to cooler weather, the pace of harvest has been moderate and steady, contributing to a smooth and efficient harvest. D'Alo notes that there are many eager workers available, which may shift needs away from H2-A supplemental crews come the 2025 harvest season. Navigating the complexities of an early harvest without the additional strain of labor shortages has allowed growers to meet the harvest requests of their winery partners, adding to the positive outlook for wine quality in 2024. Market Struggles Pose Challenges for Growers While the quality of the 2024 harvest is undeniable, the economic landscape remains challenging for many. The spot market for grapes has been difficult, with prices often failing to meet production costs. Stornetta notes that many conversations with winery partners have not resulted in deals, as unsold fruit remains an issue. As wineries pull back on production due to the evolving state of wine sales , the supply of grapes has outpaced demand, causing strain for growers statewide. D'Alo echoes this concern, noting that while this vintage will likely produce exceptional wines, fewer cases will be produced due to the current market conditions. Looking Ahead: Quality Amidst Market Challenges The 2024 harvest presents a complex picture: while the weather has provided nearly perfect conditions for grape development, and labor availability is at an all-time high, the economic struggles facing the industry cannot be ignored. Despite these market challenges, the promise of exceptional wines coupled with Napa Valley’s hard-earned pedigree of distinct wines recognized on the global stage provide an outlook marked by resilience and the ability to adapt. Napa Valley’s growers remain committed to producing world-class wines, and this year’s fruit holds the potential to create wines that will stand out in any collection. The grape growing industry is currently facing significant challenges. The market for wine grapes, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, has become increasingly unstable, with spot market rates falling to levels that are difficult for many growers to sustain. Even those with contracts are finding it harder to secure favorable prices for their fruit. While the bulk wine market offers some support, it is also feeling the effects of this downturn.
This decline is reminiscent of the industry struggles in the 1980s when the grape-growing community faced similar economic pressures. During that time, high inflation and soaring interest rates, combined with an oversupply of grapes, created a challenging environment for growers. The economic recession of the early 1980s further reduced consumer spending on higher-priced wines, leading to a drop in grape prices and increased financial strain on vineyards. These conditions forced many growers to become more strategic and adaptive, much like the situation we find ourselves in today. In anticipation of these challenges, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) established the "Grape Market Task Force" in March 2024 to proactively address the current market conditions and support our members. This task force is focused on preparing our industry for difficult times by offering resources, guidance, and strategic connections. Our initiatives include hosting webinars on market trends, investing in paid SEO for the Napa Winegrape Market, connecting members with fruit brokers to explore all possible sales avenues, and developing a white paper with guidelines for those considering not harvesting due to economic constraints. In these testing years, every grower must determine their "rock bottom" price—the minimum acceptable price for their grapes—before entering negotiations. While it may be tempting to turn to the bulk wine market, selling bulk wine may not yield better financial outcomes than selling grapes directly. For some growers, unfortunately, there will be no contract or viable options for selling their fruit, resulting in a significant loss for the year. As an organization, we remain committed to supporting our members through this period. We will continue to advocate for the protection of our agricultural lands and the economic sustainability of our vineyards, as these are foundational to the future of Napa Valley. The NVG will continue to take a proactive approach, doing everything possible to help our members navigate these challenging times. As history has shown, our community's resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence will see us through to brighter days ahead. On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, an adult male Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) was detected in a pest detection trap in Sonoma County, just outside the town of Sonoma. The trap, located in a fruit tree on a residential property near 8th Street East and Old Winery Road, caught the attention of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and local county agricultural departments. While the discovery of a single fly does not immediately trigger a quarantine, it does call for increased fruit fly trapping and monitoring, which in this case, extends into parts of Napa County.
In response to this finding, Sonoma County Ag, Napa County Ag, and CDFA are collaborating to place additional delimitation traps around the core area of the detection. Over the next week, 425-450 traps will be deployed within a 4.5-mile radius, covering parts of southwest Napa County, including areas around Redwood Road, Partrick Road, Mt. Veeder Road, and the western section of Carneros. CDFA staff began placing traps on August 9 and 10, primarily in residential and roadside host trees, with the goal of ensuring no further adult flies are found, thereby avoiding a quarantine. So far, CDFA has successfully treated the initial find site and adjacent properties in Sonoma County. As of today, all delimitation traps have been successfully deployed around the find site, encompassing the core area (1 square mile), the first buffer zone (9 square miles), and the outer buffer zones (16-32 square miles). These traps have been checked and serviced multiple times. Initially, daily checks were conducted during the first week. With no additional findings, the frequency of servicing has been reduced to weekly, starting August 19. Currently, 222 traps are set in Sonoma County and 62 in Napa County. CDFA staff will continue their trapping activities throughout the delimitation process. It’s important to note that last year saw an unprecedented number of exotic fruit fly detections and active quarantines in California. Fortunately, all seven fruit fly quarantines last season, including those in nearby counties like Sacramento, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara, successfully eradicated the pest populations, allowing the quarantines to be lifted. This serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing pest exclusion and detection efforts to protect our agricultural communities. Growers within the delimitation area in Napa have been notified, but it’s important to stress that there is currently no quarantine in place, so vineyard and winery operations can proceed as usual. We remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding our agricultural lands from invasive species and ensuring that Napa’s renowned wine industry remains unaffected by these potential threats. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor the situation closely. 
As the 2024 harvest season kicks off in Napa Valley, the anticipation is palpable. For our members and the broader community, we are pleased to share a comprehensive set of resources designed to support a successful and safe harvest. These tools, crafted by experts, offer insights, best practices, and vital safety information to ensure the season runs smoothly.
1. Harvest Predictions Podcast In our latest episode of the Grown in Napa Valley podcast, we delve into the much-anticipated predictions for the 2024 vintage. This year’s discussion features local experts who reflect on the unique growing conditions, analyze the potential quality of the grapes, and estimate the timing and yield of the harvest. 2. Harvest Best Practices Video For growers and workers alike, our Harvest Best Practices video is an invaluable resource. This video provides an overview of the most effective techniques to ensure quality and efficiency during harvest. 3. Harvest Procedures Paper Accompanying our video, the Harvest Best Practices Paper offers detailed guidelines in both English and Spanish. This comprehensive document includes step-by-step instructions and recommendations for managing the harvest, from pre-harvest preparations to post-harvest storage.
4. Harvest Night Safety Paper Safety is always a top priority, particularly during the demanding harvest season when much of the work happens at night. Our Harvest Night Safety Paper, available in both English and Spanish, outlines crucial safety measures for night work.
5. Napa Valley Vintners Press Release on the Start of the 2024 Harvest We’re thrilled to share the recent press release from the Napa Valley Vintners, announcing the official start of the 2024 harvest. View their Vintage Tracker website for more updates.
At Napa Valley Grapegrowers, we are committed to supporting our community through every stage of the growing season. These resources are part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the 2024 harvest is not only fruitful but also safe and sustainable for everyone involved. As you embark on this year’s harvest, we encourage you to utilize these tools and stay connected with us for ongoing updates and support.
Here’s to a successful harvest season! California’s indoor heat worker protections were approved on July 23, 2024, by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). This new regulation goes into effect immediately to protect indoor workers from heat illness.
On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396 “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” and requested that the regulation take effect immediately after OAL approval. Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, and training. Additional requirements, where feasible, apply where the temperature reaches 87 degrees such as cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules, and providing personal heat-protective equipment. Where workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas, the additional requirements apply at 82 degrees. Cal/OSHA has developed educational materials and resources to help employers understand and comply with these requirements. New educational materials and resources include:
You may have heard by now of an invasive insect pest called the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). This damaging pest was found in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has established itself in 17 states since then. It is native to Asia, where it lives in balance with population controls such as parasitic wasps and other predators. Here in the United States, no such controls exist, and the population expands rapidly. The spotted lanternfly (SLF) has done serious damage to vineyards. The story of SLF is intertwined with a particular tree species, also endemic to Asia. The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a favored host of SLF, and some researchers point to growing evidence of a dependent relationship between the insect and this prolifically spreading tree. Unfortunately, tree of heaven (TOH) was deliberately introduced to the United States in the 1700’s as an extremely hardy and fast-growing ornamental species.
There are many established stands of TOH here in Napa that will provide prime habitat for SLF in the event the pest is introduced here. Some of these TOH populations are directly adjacent to vineyards, increasing the risk of SLF infestation. It is not likely that a weak flyer like SLF would ever expand its range westward through the many geographic barriers it would face. Rather, this pest will likely make it debut into California as a hitchhiker on a plane, in a car, or as egg masses attached to objects in transfer from infested areas. For this reason, California Border Inspection Stations are on high alert to detect SLF egg masses. Because the SLF threat is so severe, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has established an action plan to facilitate rapid response. The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office (CAC) has been closely monitoring the SLF/TOH connection and threat potential. Along with plenty of public outreach and education materials, we have been placing SLF detection traps throughout the county since 2020. Very few other counties has actively trapped for this pest. The traps are located in areas of highest risk, including adjacent to vineyards, storage and shipping facilities, rail lines, the airport, and campgrounds. Along with a detection trapping program, we have done a thorough survey of the county, mapping the location of TOH individuals and sapling clusters. This work was made possible by initial grant funding from the State, and on-going funding from the Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District. Napa CAC also inspects all plant material entering the county, along with inspections of materials moved here from high-risk areas. These inspections also look for the egg masses of the Spongy Moth, formerly known as the Gypsy Moth. The Napa CAC will remain vigilant and proactive in facing the double threat of TOH and SLF. If this information has made you want to take action yourself, we’d like to ask for your help in identifying more TOH specimens for a mapping project that allows us to prioritize locations for detection trapping and outreach. Please participate in our survey to help you identify TOH. |
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