DECEMBER 3, 2018. BY LODI WINEGRAPE COMMISSION.
Please join the Lodi Winegrape Commission on Tuesday, December 11th for a MECHANIZATION SHOWCASE! Be sure to RSVP (details below) as lunch is provided.
Lodi growers have a history of maximizing vineyard efficiency. With 100-110,000 acres of grapes and labor becoming increasingly scarce, it only makes sense to mechanize vineyard operations to the greatest extent possible. During the first of what will hopefully be an annual or bi-annual MECHANIZATION SHOWCASE, growers will learn the latest innovations from the major mechanization equipment companies. Tips on how to optimize vineyards for mechanization will be provided by growers and others leading the way. Mechanization itself is a large financial investment and we want to optimize our grower’s chances of success and profitability.
Matt Frank of Trinchero Family Estates describes their experimentation with chemical and mechanical suckering at a Lodi Winegrape Commission Tailgate Talk in 2017. Matt will give the audience an update on their progress at the December 11th event.
Held at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds in Burgundy Hall, the MECHANIZATION SHOWCASE will consist of brief morning talks by selected speakers on: high wire trellising tips and tricks (panel moderated by Keith Striegler of Gallo) and research updates (Paul Verdegaal – Kautz trellising trial; Matt Frank – Trinchero’s suckering methods). Then, select mechanization vendors will be invited to speak for 10 minutes about their latest innovations. We want the vendors to show us what is coming down the pipeline and how they are improving existing equipment. There will be 2 minutes for questions for each vendor.
Kyle Brown of LangeTwins demonstrated mechanical pruning at a Lodi Winegrape Commission Tailgate Talk earlier this year.
Event details:
Date: Tuesday, December 11th, 2018
Venue: Burgundy Hall, Grape Festival Grounds, 413 E Lockeford St, Lodi, CA 95240
Time: 7:45 am – 1:30 pm, lunch included
Cost: FREE, all are welcome – please RSVP as lunch is provided
Description: During the first of what will hopefully be an annual LODI VINEYARD MECHANIZATION SHOWCASE, growers will learn the latest innovations from the major mechanization equipment companies. Tips on how to optimize high wire trellising systems will be provided by growers and others leading the way. Hosted by the Lodi Winegrape Commission. Note: this is an indoor workshop with presentations; no actual mechanization equipment will be present this year but we hope to expand the event with equipment in the future.
Confirmed vendors (10 minute innovation presentations): Acampo Machine Works/Collard, Evolution Equipment/Pellenc, ERO (Viteco cane pruner)/RDO, Clemens, VMech, Spagnolo, KLIMA/ECO Trellis, New Holland, Oxbo.
High Wire Trellising panel (moderated by Keith Striegler, E. & J. Gallo): Pete Opatz (Viticulturist, Silverado Premium Partners), Matt Frank (Viticulturist, Trinchero Family Estates), Randy Kazarian (Owner, Kazarian Vineyard Development), and Kelly Brakel (Vineyard Manager, LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards)
Lodi Mechanization Research updates: Paul Verdegaal (Kautz Trellising Trial), Matt Frank (Trinchero’s mechanical and chemical suckering adventures)
Confirmed vendors (tables): Acampo Machine Works/Collard, Evolution Equipment/Pellenc, ERO (Viteco cane pruner)/RDO, Clemens, VMech/AgOtter, Spagnolo, KLIMA/Jim’s Supply Co./ECO Trellis, New Holland, Oxbo, PA Trellising, and Infaco.
For more info.: Contact Stephanie Bolton at stephanie@lodiwine.com. Event is free and all are welcome.
RSVP: To Christina at the Lodi Winegrape Commission, 209.367.4727 or lwwc@lodiwine.com.
Have something interesting to say? Consider writing a guest blog article!
To subscribe to the Coffee Shop Blog, send an email to stephanie@lodiwine.com with the subject “blog subscribe.”
To join the Lodi Growers email list, send an email to stephanie@lodiwine.com with the subject “grower email subscribe” or click on “join our email list” to the right.
To receive Lodi Grower news and event promotions by mail, send your contact information to stephanie@lodiwine.com or call 209.367.4727.
For more information on the wines of Lodi, visit the Lodi Winegrape Commission’s consumer website, lodiwine.com.
