​Welcome to Trellis Talks, a new mini-series from Grown in Napa Valley, where we dive into the technical side of vineyard management in bite-sized episodes. In this installment, host Caleb Mosley sits down with Thibaut Scholasch of Fruition Sciences to explore the science of vineyard water management. From irrigation timing to the long-term impact of early-season decisions, they discuss how to optimize vine resilience and ripening in an unpredictable climate. Whether you're a grower, winemaker, or vineyard enthusiast, this quick but insightful conversation will help you rethink how water shapes the future of Napa Valley wines.

NVG's Advocacy on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a basin-wide plan that lays out a path for sustainable management of a groundwater basin over 20 years.

NVG has worked for several years as a voice for growers, aiming to ensure that the state-mandated GSP considers how water is used in vineyards and how these regulations will impact grape-growing operations.

NVG is also a committed community partner in meeting the county’s environmental goals related to ensuring the health of the subbasin. This advocacy includes representing members on the GSP Advisory Committee, providing regular public comment and presentations to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), and regular correspondence with county staff to aid the County in understanding effective water mitigation strategies in Napa County vineyards. 
 
See below to view a recent article highlighting NVG's support of and feedback on the GSP's rollout, our comments on the GSP Workplans, and our most recent presentation to the TAG.

Sustainable Vineyard Practices: Irrigation
Last month, NVG hosted an irrigation-focused Sustainable Vineyard Practices Seminar, where we received an update on the GSP from Jamison Crosby, Napa County’s Natural Resources Conservation Manager.

As a result of NVG's continued advocacy on the GSP, Napa County has committed to developing incentive programs for growers who have already implemented effective water conservation strategies and are willing to share their data with the county. NVG will continue participating in these stakeholder discussions on behalf of members.

If you are interested in participating as a pilot site for well monitoring to help inform the model used to calculate the sustainable yield of the Napa Valley Subbasin, please reach out to Jamison Crosby at [email protected] if you would like to support this effort.

Please see below to watch a recording of this update and stay abreast of an important regulation for our industry.

Napa Valley Grapegrowers Water Conservation & GSP Resources
NVG has created a wealth of resources to support members throughout the planning and implementation of the GSP. Watch our Water Conservation Seminar with information about the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, view a video on Water Reclamation in the Napa Valley, and visit our GSP and Water & Irrigation webpages for additional resources.

These resources were partially funded by the USDA Extension Risk Management Education Grant. ​

The timing of rainfall affects when you begin to irrigate, as do vine water stress and needs. To support you in planning your responsible irrigation practices for the season, NVG provides you with the following resources:​

Water is a limited and valuable resource that must be managed well to secure the future of farming and to protect our natural ecosystems. Please click the button below to hear from Miguel García with the Napa County Resource Conservation District as he discusses various actions growers can take to manage their water more effectively.​