Written By Jess Trapeni
The annual Virginia Vineyards Association (VVA) Winter Technical Meeting took place February 25-26, 2025. This year marked an exciting change in venue to The Madison Hotel in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a move that was well received by attendees. Harrisonburg proved to be a fantastic host city, offering an abundance of local restaurants and hospitality for networking and socializing.
With the theme “Optimizing Yields; Navigating the Future,” the conference aimed to provide vineyard owners and staff with valuable insights into improving vineyard productivity while preparing for future challenges.
Day One: Understanding and Optimizing Vineyard Performance
The first day’s presentations delved into key topics affecting vineyard yields, including precision viticulture technology, soil and petiole sampling, nutrient management, irrigation, training systems, trunk diseases, and crop balance. These discussions provided attendees with actionable insights to enhance vineyard productivity. The speakers included:
- Drew Harner, Virginia Tech Extension
- Tremain Hatch, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Terry Bates, Cornell University
- Kovie Bowen, Veritas Vineyard Winery
- Alan Meijer, Waypoint Analytical
- Jonathan Davidson, Berry Hill Irrigation
- Aury Holtslag, New Dominion Growers
- Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Joy Ting, Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange
The day concluded with the recognition of outstanding contributions within the VVA community presented by Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture. The prestigious 2024 VVA Grower of the Year award was presented to Doug Fabbioli. Additionally, the 2024 Dr. Tony Wolf Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to two deserving recipients: Dr. Douglas
Pfeiffer and Jeanette Smith. Their remarkable contributions to the Virginia wine industry were celebrated, and this press release offers further details on their achievements.
Day Two: Business, Research, and Chardonnay Exploration
The second day began with crucial discussions on farm succession planning, vineyard sales, and legal considerations for vineyard owners. The program continued with updates on various research initiatives supported by the VVA, including work conducted by Virginia Tech, The Winemakers Research Exchange, The Vineyard Folklorist project, The Veraison Project, and The Virginia Grape Breeding Program. The speakers for day two included:
- Tom Stanley, Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Mark Botkin, BotkinRose PLC
- Tyler Williams, Virginia Estates
- Tim Ulvi, Virginia Estates
- Marybeth Williams, Williams Compliance
- Dr. Drew Harner, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Joy Ting, Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange
- Dr. Kim Stryker, George Mason University
- Noe Garcia Corona, Grace Estate Winery
- Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Surya Sapkota, USDA
To conclude the conference, attendees participated in a focused tasting session centered on Chardonnay. This deep dive into Chardonnay wines from across the state showcased the grape’s versatility through various clones and wine making styles, offering a practical demonstration of the impact of different growing and production methods. Thanks to our vendors whose booths and time provided attendees with an excellent opportunity to engage with companies offering products and services tailored to vineyard operations.
Many thanks to the VVA Board and Education Committee for putting this years meeting together. The 2025 VVA Winter Technical Meeting successfully blended education, networking, and industry recognition. It was great to have so many of our vineyard professionals from across the state take full advantage of the lively atmosphere to exchange ideas and strengthen our industry.
Thanks to all the vendors and sponsors who supported our 2025 event:
The Virginia Wine Board, American National, Sky Hound, Wine & Beer Supply, Aquino Baron Consulting, Wine & Vine Care, Autrusa Inc., Arton Products, Orchard-Rite, BDI Machinery, Winchester Equipment, Lafitte Cork & Capsule, Common Wealth Crush Co., Carolina Wine Supply, Amberg Grapevines, Sunridge Nurseries, Spec Trellising, Virginia Agroecology Services, Vintner Wine Solutions, Double A Vineyards, Berry Hill Irrigation, Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc., Nutrien Ag Solutions, Euro-Machines Inc., Virginia Works, GHT Insurance!