Learn how vineyard soil and soil chemistry impact grapevine performance. Designed for vineyard owners, vineyard managers and workers, winemakers, enologists and aspiring vineyard professionals, this primarily asynchronous online course focuses on the importance of soil in a commercial winegrape vineyard. Learn about macro and microclimate, terroir and the choice of cultivars for particular sites. In the final weeks of the course, you’ll look at best practices for establishing a new vineyard, including soil preparation, vineyard layout and other factors to be considered. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how climate impacts grape growing worldwide, how physical and chemical soil characteristics impact water and nutrient movement, and how to utilize cover crops on the vineyard floor.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply the principles of soil chemistry to design a soil nutrition program for a vineyard
- Implement your knowledge of water monitoring and soil characteristics to design an irrigation program for a vineyard
- Identify appropriate cover crops for specific vineyard applications
- Develop a timeline and steps for establishing a new vineyard
Skills You Will Gain
- How to design a soil nutrition and irrigation program for a vineyard
- Appropriate use of cover crops for vineyards
- Best practices for establishing a new vineyard
Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—such as video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are accessible throughout each week.