The realities of grape growing are shifting. From rising input costs and labor challenges to market uncertainty and tightening winery contracts, Napa Valley growers are navigating one of the most complex business landscapes in recent history. Recognizing these challenges, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) had the foresight to apply for federal support through the USDA’s Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) program.

This grant directly funds grower services throughout 2026, helping NVG members strengthen the financial, marketing, and legal foundations of their vineyard businesses.

Grant-funded services will be available to growers throughout 2026, designed to build business resiliency and long-term sustainability. To be eligible for complimentary one-on-one services, we encourage growers to attend the corresponding Business of Vineyards webinar in their area of interest. That way, participants can receive:

• An in-depth Business of Vineyards webinar focused on financial, marketing, or legal strategies.
• Personalized one-on-one consultations with financial advisors, marketing experts, or attorneys—​valued at up to $45,000 in total support for the grower community.
• Access recordings, templates, and tools to apply new strategies directly to their vineyard operations.

* or until program funds have been fully utilized.

December 2, 2025: Financial Resiliency
In today’s complex agricultural environment, making informed decisions is more important than ever. Declining revenue and rising expenses challenge even the most seasoned growers, making it essential to adjust costs to maintain profitability. But how do you know where to start?
Join us for a practical conversation on vineyard economics, including how to evaluate costs, identify savings, and plan for long-term profitability. Jon Moramarco of bw166 will offer his perspective on the financial realities growers are facing today, providing context and tools to support confident, data-driven decision-making. Following Jon’s presentation, Brotemarkle & Davis will provide an overview of their financial services and resources available to growers.
Attendees will be eligible to receive personalized insight into your vineyard’s costs, revenue, and profitability potential with Brotemarkle & Davis. 

January 20, 2025: Marketing Resiliency
The market for wine grapes continues to evolve, and growers are being asked to do more than ever to stand out. Success today requires more than great fruit, it demands a clear understanding of how to position your vineyard, tell your story, and build lasting partnerships with wineries.
Join us for an inspiring and practical session with Michael Cuffe, Napa native and founder of Napa Valley Creative Agency. Drawing from his experience with Visit Napa Valley and years of producing content that celebrates our region, Michael will share how to effectively market your vineyard, build visibility, and position your brand in a changing marketplace. You’ll learn what today’s buyers and consumers are looking for—and how to authentically communicate the value of your vineyard.
Attendees will be eligible to work with Michael Cuffe for personalized marketing audit designed to help you market your vineyard more effectively. 

February TBA: Legal Resiliency
​The legal aspects of farming are more complex than ever, especially when it comes to grape sales agreements. Whether negotiating an existing contract with a winery or securing a new one, understanding the legal implications of these decisions is essential to minimizing risk and ensuring the long-term success of your operation.
Scott Greenwood-Meinert of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP will share insights on navigating grape sales agreements, addressing common challenges, and strategies for protecting your vineyard’s legal interests in an evolving marketplace.
Attendees will be eligible to work with Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP for personalized legal support tailored to the needs of your vineyard operation. 

Please note: For all services, we may not be able to accommodate everyone. If demand is high, small producers will be given priority.

As harvest wraps up across the valley, many growers are shifting focus to vineyard redevelopment, and this year, more acres than ever are being removed and replanted. With those pulled vines come piles ready for burning, and the permissive Crop Replacement burn season, the question becomes: how do we manage them responsibly?

It’s easy to understand the impulse to light up on the first clear, burn-authorized day. But when everyone acts at once, the valley fills with smoke, visibility drops, and what could have been a series of clean, well-timed burns turns into what looks like a valley-wide event.

As growers and stewards of this land, we share a collective responsibility to protect air quality — for our neighbors, our crews, and the greater community. A little coordination goes a long way.

​Here are a few simple ways to help keep the air clear:

1. Talk to your neighbors. If you know nearby vineyards have also been pulled, coordinate your burn days so fires are staggered. A quick text or phone call can make all the difference.
2. Connect through your AVA group. Local AVA meetings or email lists are great ways to share plans. If several growers are planning burns, consider spreading them out over several days.
3. Cover your piles if you can wait. Tarping piles keeps them dry and ready for cleaner, more efficient burning later in the season.
4. Be weather-smart. Always confirm with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) before burning and follow their daily authorization updates to avoid temperature inversions or poor dispersion conditions.
5. Consider alternatives. Explore chipping, grinding, or other biomass management options.

 
Every grower wants to do the right thing, sometimes it’s just about slowing down, looking around, and remembering that we all share the same air.
 
Learn More
For details on permitting, air quality notifications, and best practices for vineyard burning, visit NVG’s Agricultural Burning resource page.
 
Local Contractors
David Eakle, Eakle Construction
(707) 965-3610 ext. 101
 
Johnny White, Pina Vineyard Management
(707) 486-2198
 
Manuel Rios, Rios Farming Company
(707) 965-2587
 
Mark Neal, Jack Neal & Son, Inc.
(707) 963-7303
 
Matt Weinert, High Demand
(707) 227 - 6119

In this episode of Trellis Talks, Caleb Mosley sits down with soil scientists Dr. Paul Anamosa and Dr. Nick Madden to explore their 2023 paper, “The Other White Rock in Coombsville Vineyards.” The conversation unpacks the geological mystery and viticultural significance of diatomaceous earth found in the Coombsville AVA—a lightweight, silica-rich sediment formed from freshwater algae in an ancient caldera lake. Anamosa and Madden discuss how these unique soils, often mistaken for volcanic ash or bentonite, impact vine growth, emphasizing their low pH, high aluminum toxicity, and unusual water retention characteristics. They explain how proper soil analysis and management—particularly the use of gypsum and lime—are crucial for successful vine development in these challenging conditions.
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The episode also delves into the broader story behind their collaboration, from international development work to building one of Napa’s most extensive soil pit databases. As Paul transitions into retirement, he reflects on the importance of mentorship and passing on deep technical knowledge to the next generation of consultants like Nick and their colleague Scott Nippelmeyer. Their combined efforts promise a new era of viticulture grounded in science, innovation, and deep respect for Napa Valley’s complex terroir.

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley speaks with CAL FIRE’s Matt Ryan and JC Greenberg about the recent Pickett Fire in Calistoga and the evolution of wildfire management in Napa County. They recount how lessons learned from past disasters like the Glass Fire informed a faster, more coordinated response, aided by years of fuel reduction, maintained containment lines, and collaboration with Napa Firewise. New technology—including AI-enabled smoke detection, night-flying helicopters, and mobile retardant bases—has revolutionized early fire response. The chiefs emphasize that resilience depends on community-wide preparedness: defensible space, pre-fire planning, and responsible vineyard burn practices to prevent smoke impacts during harvest.
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The conversation then turns to Bill Hanna, Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, who reflects on his family’s 50-year partnership with Château Montelena and their deep roots in Napa farming. Hanna shares how trust, quality, and collaboration have sustained this grower–winery relationship across generations. Beyond the vineyard, he highlights decades of advocacy for farmworker housing and community well-being, noting Napa’s leadership as the only county where growers self-assess to fund workforce housing. Looking ahead, Hanna discusses the need for balance—between groundwater use, vineyard density, pricing, and long-term environmental stewardship—underscoring education and cooperation as the keys to Napa Valley’s enduring agricultural legacy.

• “We pulled out the Glass Fire playbook and threw everything at it — air tankers, helicopters, dozers — everything we’d learned over the past five years came together.” - Chief Matt Ryan
• “The work we did before the Pickett Fire — those containment lines, those partnerships — that’s what saved us. The real fight starts long before the flames.” - Chief Matt Ryan
  
• “The terrain was steep, rugged, unforgiving. Our crews hiked miles just to reach the fire’s edge. Every firefighter out there knew exactly what was at stake.” - Deputy Chief JC Greenberg
  
• “Defensible space doesn’t just protect your home — it protects your neighbors, your community, and the valley we all love.” - Deputy Chief JC Greenberg
  
• “What started as a handshake between my dad and Jim Barrett at Château Montelena turned into a 50-year partnership — and three generations of trust.” - Bill Hanna 
  
• “Our biggest challenge isn’t just drought or markets — it’s remembering that sustainability means balance: between the land, the water, and each other.” - Bill Hanna