Podcast Episode 18: Innovation Without Borders: Grapegrowing in a Changing World with Julien Dumercq & Glass with a Grower, Randy Heinzen & Donnell Brown

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley first speaks with Julien Dumercq of IVES (International Viticulture and Enology Society), who highlights the organization’s mission to provide open-access research in viticulture and enology. Julien explains how IVES grew from a small initiative in Bordeaux into a global network of 35 universities and research institutes, supported by members and partners including several Napa Valley wineries. Their peer-reviewed journals, multilingual technical reviews, and international conferences foster collaboration and innovation, ensuring that research is widely available and free from financial barriers. Julien emphasizes the importance of building community across continents, sharing best practices, and maintaining scientific integrity while adapting to new technologies like AI.
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The conversation then turns to the U.S. with Randy Heinzen of Vineyard Professional Services and Donnell Brown of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA). Randy shares his journey from Napa to Paso Robles and his experiences farming across diverse sites, underscoring the value of research and cost-based vineyard management. Donnell explains NGRA’s national role in setting research priorities for all grape sectors—wine, juice, table, and raisins—and in advocating for projects with USDA and funding agencies. Together, they stress the importance of collaboration, sustained investment in research, and engaging the next generation of leaders to address challenges such as climate change, pests, and shifting market dynamics. The episode highlights Napa Valley’s role in both global and national research efforts, bridging science and practice to support resilient grape growing.

​Episode Highlights: 

• “Research should be available for everybody in the world… it’s about freedom.” - Julien Dumercq
• “What we say is correct now becomes the origin of innovation and change—it’s how science shapes the vineyard.” - Julien Dumercq
• “At the end of the day, farmers are really good at solving problems. That resilience is what keeps us going.” - Randy Heinzen
• “You farm to the site—whether it’s two tons on a hillside or seven tons in sandy soils, the goal is making it work.” - Randy Heinzen
• “We’re building a big tent of researchers across the country to solve problems that no single region can face alone.” - Donnell Brown
• “We’re in a period of unprecedented headwinds—climate change, oversupply, shifting consumption—and the only way forward is working together.”​ - Donnell Brown