Category: Archived Articles

By: Janet van Zoeren and Tim Martinson

The VitisGen and VitisGen2 projects represent major investments in understanding grapevine genetics – and particularly in identifying markers associated with desirable traits for use in ‘marker-assisted selection’.   DNA markers identified by geneticists and breeders are now incorporated into several selections and mapping populations by grape breeding programs in California, Minnesota, New York, and Missouri.

  We asked VitisGen2 breeders to provide photos and brief descriptions of a few of their selections and mapping populations and the traits they incorporate.  Where appropriate, we have highlighted the verified presence of genes through the use of markers in blue.

USDA-ARS, Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Unit, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center,Parlier, CA

Craig Ledbetter, Research Geneticist

Y308-314-08 This is a mid-season table grape selection with powdery mildew resistance, which has the Ren4 gene. It was sufficiently attractive for trialing with other advanced table grape selections.  It was the first PM resistant selection to be brought in for evaluation by the California Table Grape Commission, where there were positive comments from evaluators regarding the fruit attractiveness and productivity.  It was finally removed from variety consideration because of excessive fruit acidity.  We have continued to use this accession as a quality parent for Ren4 crosses.

Y306-196-10 This natural dry-on-vine raisin selection has all the makings of a new raisin cultivar.  The vine is extremely productive and berries begin drying down in early August.  Dry product quality is very high and berries resist powdery mildew infection because of the carried Ren4 gene.  The selection is currently under yield evaluation to examine its commercial potential.

Color Population: It is difficult to identify new red-skinned table grape selections with high quality skin color, so a 300-vine population was created from red-skinned parents that differed greatly in the quality of skin color.  The reason for creating this population is to identify a DNA marker that is linked to high quality red skin color.  All fruiting vines are being phenotyped for skin color quality, and vine DNA profiles will be examined to identify any markers linked to high quality red skin color.  Depicted in the photo are fruit clusters from two vines:  a high quality red to the left of the trunk, and low quality red to the trunk’s right.

Y511-151-12 This is the first red-skinned selection with powdery mildew resistance to be evaluated for fruit quality in advanced selection trials.  Fruitful on both spurs and canes, the selection yielded between 950 to 1400 boxes per acre, depending on applied cultural treatments.  Vitis cinerea (Ren2) is the source of this selection’s powdery mildew resistance.  The round attractive fruit ripen in mid-September and produce a 7 gram berry with 21° Brix.  Consumer evaluations have been positive, with flesh texture and sweetness being notable positive attributes.

Y514-109-12 This late-season table grape selections owes its resistance to V. romanetii, the donor of Ren4.  It is currently being evaluated for the possibility of release in collaborative trials with the California Table Grape Commission.  The white-skinned selection has achieved 1076 boxes per acre in these trials, with clusters averaging 1.3 lb. on spur-pruned vines.  Fruit of this selection are particularly clean, due in part to its vigorous canopy that protects developing berries from both sunburn and ambering.  While this selection may or may not ever become a new cultivar, its genetics have already been used for several seasons to donate its unique combination of powdery mildew resistance and fruit quality traits to new seedlings.

Cornell Grape Breeding and Genetics Program, Cornell AgriTech, Horticulture Section, Cornell School of Integrative Plant Science, Geneva, NY

Bruce Reisch, Professor

NY12.0107.01 This white wine grape selection is derived from a complex cross made in 2012, and confirmed through VitisGen marker analyses to carry both Run1 (for powdery mildew resistance) and Rpv1 (for downy mildew resistance). This particular vine was planted in 2014 as a single vine seedling, propagated in 2017, and planted in a six-vine plot in 2018. Fruit were netted and harvested in September 2020, and we expect to evaluate the first wine sample next spring.  The very long, moderately compact clusters bear fruit with mild flavors, and seem free of hybrid characteristics derived from North American species. One of its quality ancestors include ‘Muscat Hamburg’. It may have potential for high productivity.

NY10.0927.02 Another white wine grape selection bearing attractive clusters of light red fruit. As with its ‘Aromella’ ancestor, this selection has some flowery, aromatic components in the fresh fruit, likely derived from its ‘Gewürztraminer’ background.  The cross was made in 2010 and seedling vines were planted to a permanent vineyard in 2012. This selection was then propagated in 2017 and planted to a test site in 2018.  Fruit were harvested this year for sensory analysis in 2021.  According to VitisGen tests that were run on the seedling vines, this selection carries Run1 and Rpv1, as described above, but also carries Ren2 powdery mildew resistance from Vitis cinerea.

NY15.0416.01 This blue grape selection was created expressly for the interest in a juice grape with high levels of powdery mildew and downy mildew resistance. Another goal of the cross was to have relatively early ripening compared to ‘Concord’. The juice grape parent was a very early ripening selection created in the 1950s by the Experiment Station breeding program.  It was a hybrid of an early ripening blue labrusca grape with Concord.  The other parent donated resistance genes (Run1 and Rpv1) to the cross, and possibly Ren3 as well.  This cross was made in 2015 and vines were planted to a seedling vineyard in 2017.  Fruit were first observed in 2019 and the vine has already been propagated.  Small juice samples were made in 2020 from two harvest dates in September.  The flavor of the fresh fruit is quite similar to ‘Concord’.

4427075 This is a new wine selection in the Cornell-Geneva grape breeding program. Marker assisted selection results indicated the presence of two genes for powdery mildew resistance (Run1 and Ren2), and one for downy mildew resistance (Rpv1). The cross was made in 2014, and though we have no wine results yet, the flavors of the fresh fruit reflect a lack of wild grape off-flavors, and presence of pleasing fruity flavors. Fruit ripen mid-season.

4427025 This red wine grape also come from a cross made in 2014, so wine hasn’t yet been tested.  With large clusters that are not overly compact, the vine appears to have good yield potential.  In 2019, the vine had nearly no black rot in a planting with a great deal of black rot. Resistance to powdery and downy mildews are also excellent; DNA results indicate the presence of Run1, Rpv1 and Ren2.

4405008 During meetings with growers early in 2015, it was suggested that juice grapes with flavor profiles similar to current industry standards (Concord and Niagara) but harboring strong levels of disease resistance would be a desirable goal.  So, in June 2015 and 2016, a number of crosses were made with this goal in mind. There were several outstanding examples among the seedlings that began fruiting in 2018 and 2019.  Here is one such selection grown under fungicide-free conditions in 2019, with ripe fruit on September 19.  This young vine comes from a cross made in 2016 and is precocious and productive. Time will tell if these will be worthy of release; we have yet to determine juice suitability (though they do taste great!), winter hardiness, and stability across years and sites.  But several seedlings show promise.

NY06.0514.06 This promising red wine grape selection, with excellent powdery and downy mildew resistance from the use of Run1, Rpv1 and Ren2, is already going out to trials with NE1720 University cooperators and others.  Though the cross was made prior to the start of the VitisGen projects, this selection was tested for presence of resistance genes using VitisGen resources.  The fruit have excellent resistance to bunch rot, and fruit and foliage have moderate resistance to black rot. The buds are moderately winter hardy, with expected temperature of 50% bud kill in mid-winter measured to be -15 °F.  Wine descriptors are as follows: fruity with notes of blackberry, plum, cherry; slightly herbaceous, with green pepper noted; good body and medium tannin; also, some have detected chocolate notes.

University of Minnesota, Grape Breeding and Enology Program, Department of Horticultural Science, St Paul, MN

Matthew Clark, Assistant Professor

E0012-01 This selection is from a population of La Crescent x Seyval blanc. This selection has relatively large berry size and large clusters (169.83 g/l), and at harvest has 24.2° Brix, 2.91 ph, 12.17 g total acidity.  In the past we have harvested on 9/24/18. This vine has a low incidence of powdery mildew, which may be inherited from Seyval blanc (Ren3 resistance allele). There is downy mildew on the leaves, which is typical of its parent La Crescent. The clusters had no incidence of black rot, a common problem in the vineyard in 2019. The flavor and aroma profile includes honey, lemon, kiwi, pear, and gooseberry.

GE9408-01 Descended from Vitis riparia, ‘Carmine’, ‘Mandan’, and Landot noir 4511, this selection is from a cross of MN1094 x Seyval blanc. As a descendant of ‘Seyval’, our marker tests indicated that it also carries the Ren3resistance allele for powdery mildew. This grape produced a small (68.6 g), compact cluster but is interesting for its appeal in the wine, specifically the low titratable acidity (7.1 g/l) and moderate soluble solids (24.5 °Brix).  The wine was described as cherry, smoke, leather, berry, and with some tannin.

GE0733-01 This selection is a seedless table grape that is highly aromatic and has many tropical flavors. The parentage is unknown and will require DNA testing to confirm the possible parents. Most likely this selection is derived from Elmer Swenson’s breeding line and does carry the proper alleles at the SDI locus for seedlessness.  The leaves of this selection have no incidence of powdery mildew. The yellow berries are 2.3 g each, and clusters are 92.33 g.  Due to polar vortex in 2014 and 2019, this vine has not produced much fruit in USDA Zone 4. Primary clusters are large, but secondary buds or latent buds reliably produce smaller clusters. This is an earlier variety with harvest around the second week of September, 21.8 °Brix and total acidity of 6.69 g/l.

VB9276-01 Wine described with muscat with floral notes including lilac and tropical fruits like banana. This selection is a cross of VB 86-4 and Frontenac. Selected for white wine, this selection has relatively low titratable acidity compared to other cold hardy hybrids at 7.11 g/l. The berries are smaller like ‘Frontenac’ and the bunches are loose like that parent as well. This selection is susceptible to black rot and powdery mildew. It is marginally hardy in our Zone 4 conditions.

GE9913-01 This selection is an offspring of the above (VB9276-01) crossed with ‘La Crescent’. Unfortunately it demonstrates severe susceptibility of leaves to downy mildew. However, the fruit appear to be immune, which is the same in ‘La Crescent’. Despite having muscat ancestors, this selection is more neutral in its flavor profile, not demonstrating hybrid or muscat characteristics. This wine is described like Sauvignon blanc. It is grassy, green fruit, with aromas of peach and citrus. This selection is not suitable for Zone 4 conditions without additional winter protection. It may also benefit from a longer, warmer growing season further south.

Fine Mapping Family MN 1264 x MN 1246 We developed this population of nearly 1000 individuals in order to fine map important traits that were previously mapped in our GE1025 population (Teh et al. 2017, Clark et al. 2018).  We are currently evaluating this population for resistance to powdery mildew, foliar phylloxera, and the presence of leaf trichomes. This planting was established in 2019 at the Horticultural Research Center and should produce its first fruit for evaluation in 2020. We hope to use this population to improve our understanding of fruit color, bunch architecture, flower sex, and fruit quality traits such as hybrid flavors.

  Funding for VitisGen2 is provided by a Specialty Crop Research Initiative Competitive Grant, Award No. 2017- 51181-26829, of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Follow us on Twitter for project updates and webinar announcements @VitisGen

Email Tim Martinson at tem2@cornell.edu with any questions or comments about the program or webpage.

By: Cheryl Gray

  While admirably beautiful in their natural habitat, wildlife can wreak havoc in vineyards, unwittingly destroying a harvest not intended for them. Imagine a roost of more than a million pesky birds, and you have an immediate visual of an economically damaging enemy.   

Experts say that birds, rabbits and deer are among the most troublesome culprits. In response, vineyards worldwide have deployed a range of deterrents to protect their grapes, turning to manufacturers with innovative products designed to solve a potential challenge.

Oh Deer   

  One of the leading providers of wildlife deterrence is Pennsylvania-based Trident Corporation, in business since 1984. Its fencing and accessories are used not only in vineyards but also in national parks, public gardens and animal rescue projects. Trident services winery and vineyard clients across the United States, including Texas, California, South Dakota and South Carolina. Among its primary fencing products is one to deter deer. Cody Parks, Trident’s Marketing Specialist, touts the company as the largest distributor of deer fence systems in the U.S.  He tells The Grapevine Magazine why deer are so troublesome to vineyards. 

  “Deer seem to be one of the largest pests for any sort of outdoor growing operation, primarily because deer can wreak havoc on young plants. They love to eat young trees and plants as soon as they start to bud. This could stop the plant from growing and prevent it from producing a yield. It could potentially kill the plant entirely depending [on] how much of it was eaten. Even full-grown plants aren’t safe. Deer will rub their antlers on trees to remove the velvet which will remove the bark and expose the sensitive area of a tree,” says Parks.

  “We offer a range of fences in various sizes, strengths and materials. The fences are polypropylene plastic or varying degrees of metal from steel hex to welded wire to fixed knot. We also offer a few different post and gate options. Our most popular fencing for wineries/vineyards is the extra-strength poly fence. It is an effective deterrent and is cheap to cover large expanses of land. As far as other wildlife, we do offer certain fencing that helps protect against rodents.” 

  Parks says that Trident has earned its top spot in the industry by introducing innovative products. “One product we introduced into the market is the poly fence with reinforced bottom edge. The reinforced bottom edge makes it more secure when staking the fencing to the ground,” he says. “We are in a very niche market for our products, and the majority of places that sell this type of [deer] fencing source it from us. However, we do offer a tiered price list for some businesses, and all of our inventory is at an on-site warehouse.”  

The bird is the word

  Birds present a different type of worry for grape growers. Bouchaine Vineyards, located in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, California, is noted for its environmentally friendly approach to pest control. Bouchaine was the first Fish Friendly Certified vineyard in Napa Valley. It also holds Napa Green Land and Winery Certifications. 

  Bouchaine Vineyards features an integrated pest management program that includes bird boxes and raptor perches stationed throughout the vineyards. The bird boxes attract bluebirds that feed on pest populations, along with owls and hawks that control gopher damage. Chris Kajani, winemaker and general manager for Bouchaine Vineyards, explains how her company uses another grape defense method to protect crops from pesky birds.   

  “Our vineyard is surrounded by telephone wires which pesky birds sit on and then swoop down to snack on grapes all day. To mitigate this bird damage, we have daily site visits from our falconer from véraison through harvest. Blackbirds and starlings are terrified of falcons and will fly off when one is released. Our falconer will fly her birds multiple times a day if the bird pressure is high. We also provide demonstrations to guests who are interested in falconry throughout the year.” 

  While some vineyards rely on Mother Nature to handle their wildlife challenges, others turn to technology options. Sutton Agricultural Enterprises provides answers. Headquartered in Salinas, California, the company counts among its clients vineyards in Salinas Valley and throughout the country.  

  Sutton Agricultural began under another company name in 1956. It became a pioneer in bird deterrence, initially through sales of pyrotechnic devices. John Sutton bought the company in 1973 and continues as operations manager to this day. He says the most common bird pests include European starlings, horned larks, house finches, crows and Old World sparrows. According to Sutton, vineyards are an irresistible dining spot. 

  “One of the disadvantages of vineyards is their proximity to rural areas, rolling hills, open habitat. Put yourself in their shoes (or little tiny feet). You live near a vineyard, maybe in a grassy field or wooded area. Late in the year, when there’s very little natural vegetation to eat, a human comes out to the vineyard with a little thing that looks like a flashlight, holds it up, and smiles. This is the signal well known to birds. The time has come to feast,” Sutton says. 

  Those in the industry, he says, will recognize that “flashlight” as a refractometer and his description of how birds spot an inviting vineyard as a bit of well-known industry humor. However, there is nothing funny about birds swooping down and damaging grape crops. That’s where Sutton’s company comes in, armed with an arsenal of equipment for vineyards to scare off unwanted, winged dinner guests safely. Those tools include visual, sonic and physical deterrents. Its most popular products include exclusion netting, propane cannons, pyrotechnics and a variety of visual items.  

  “We have been the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor of Zon propane cannons and Zink bird-scaring pyrotechnics for more than 50 years. These two brands are leaders in their fields and have consistently provided the best propane cannons and pyrotechnics available on the market,” says Sutton.

  Pyrotechnics and cannons are designed to frighten and disorient birds and other wildlife. A sonic blast, for example, can be as loud as an ambulance siren or a jackhammer.  

  In addition to natural defenses, netting, fences and technology, there are even more options. Michigan-based Avian Enterprises, LLC, offers vineyard pest control solutions through a variety of bird repellants. The company’s trio of products – Avian Control Bird Repellent, Avian Migrate Goose and Bird Repellent and Avian Fog Force TR Bird Repellent – are manufactured in Michigan. 

  Avian Control Bird Repellent spray works by triggering an adverse but non-toxic reaction whenever birds get too close to vineyards. It stimulates the bird’s trigeminal nerve to create an unpleasant sensation, making vineyard grapes far less appealing. Growers use either a hand-held sprayer or an air blast sprayer to distribute the product on their grapes. It is usually applied once a week during bird season and through veraison.  

  “Avian Control Bird Repellent is one of the only liquid bio-pesticides on the market that is EPA registered for fruits and vegetables, including wine grapes,” says Avian Enterprises’ president, Jon Stone. “What distinguishes it from any competition is the enhanced efficacy provided by the combination of the active ingredient, Methyl Anthranilate, and the proprietary inert ingredients. When formulated together, [they] allow for greater effectiveness by having a more potent initial repellency and by exhibiting a much slower biodegradation rate. The end result is a much more effective and longer-lasting repellency on crops, including wine grapes. Methyl anthranilate occurs naturally and is found in bergamot, black locust, gardenia, jasmine, lemon, mandarin oranges and strawberries. MA is completely biodegradable, as are all of the ingredients in the Avian Control formula.   

  “Our winery/vineyard customers are located in every state that grows wine grapes,” Stone says, “predominantly California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio. Most of our wine grape customers initially contact us after speaking to one or more of their friends or colleagues in the wine grape or vineyard industry who currently spray Avian Control Bird Repellent on their grapes during the growing season and have excellent results. Avian Control Bird Repellent has become the best alternative to netting.”

  Wildlife pest deterrents are as numerous as the pests themselves, four-legged or fowl. No matter the vineyard location, whether overlooking the San Francisco Bay or on a more rural terrain, pest control is an essential element to protecting grape crops year-round and critical to gaining maximum grape yields during harvest. Companies specializing in these services keep a lookout for cutting-edge methods to keep pace with the ever-growing demand.

By: Alyssa L. Ochs

From sprayers to mulchers, mowers and cultivators, many pieces of large equipment are used in the modern vineyard. Most vineyard owners are already familiar with the types of machinery that work well for grape growing purposes. However, recent innovations have apparatuses that are towed behind powered vehicles and useful in a vineyard setting.

An Overview of Tow-Behind Equipment

  Sprayers are a common type of equipment towed behind tractors to disburse pesticides and fungicides. Multi-row sprayers serve to reduce labor and soil compaction with the ultimate goals of controlling pests, mildew, fungi and diseases.

  Mulchers are used in a vineyard to clear away vines, branches, grass and bushes to clean up the planting area. Specialized mulchers crush vine shoots and are attached to a tractor to chop up debris for later use or disposal. Mulchers are vital because they help improve soil fertility, control pests and weeds and produce useful organic material.

  Another towable piece of equipment is the mower, used in vineyards to cut tall weeds that impede grape growth. Vineyard owners can ensure proper growth of cover crops by shredding vines, tree prunings and leaf debris.

  The cultivator is effective in controlling weeds without the use of chemicals. Cultivators uproot weeds mechanically while creating zero emissions, waste or pollution when used for hoeing, weeding or soil aeration. Vineyard staff often use cultivators for hoeing vines after the heavy rains at the end of winter.

Features to Look for inTow-Behind Equipment

  When a vineyard is in the market for a new sprayer, they should look for equipment that offers complete coverage to wrap around vines and over and under leaves. Other beneficial features include width and height adjustment for rows, wind covers to keep spray from blowing away, the ability to maneuver well, lightweight construction and different tank size options.

  Based in Oliver, British Columbia, Canada, Munckhof Manufacturing offers various equipment for vineyards and orchards. These include sprayers, soil working machines, sweepers, mounting equipment, bin handling devices, pre-pruners, trimmers and hedgers. For sprayers, Munckhof sells high-density tower sprayers, conventional output sprayers, herbicide sprayers, skid/gun sprayers and vineyard tower sprayers that are lateral row configurations.

  Dennis van den Munckhof told The Grapevine Magazine, “Conventional radial output sprayers have been the catch-all standby for decades, but we build high-efficiency towers and output systems today that are simple and do a great job of directing the output and closing the drift distance between the sprayer and the target.”

  For mulchers, vineyard owners typically consider how finely machines chop up the crop residue, the vibration, and the power draw balance for performance and machine longevity. Another consideration is the different sizes available to suit the vineyard’s land. Mulchers can be attached to the front or the rear of a tractor and have adjustable collecting rakes to catch residue and break it down further into a fine mulch.

  A vineyard mower should efficiently cut through thick cover crops and tree and vine prunings. It should also be able to reach under overhanging branches and vines and cut overgrown areas without the need to clear material first.

  Cultivators move at the tractor’s speed, which is about four to seven miles per hour. When looking for a new cultivator, consider a model with an adjustable spring-loaded retraction system and a weeder head that spins around the vines.

  According to Paul Licata from BDi Machinery Sales, Inc. in Macungie, Pennsylvania, the new Rinieri Bio-Dynamic product is ideal for fast inter-row mechanical weeding of vineyards, hemp, orchards and other cultivation applications. BDi Machinery offers various innovative specialty agricultural machinery, including sprayers, hedgers, leaf removers, shredders, cultivators, pruners, mowers, row mulchers and more. This company has been in the industry since 1996 and prides itself on being a partner to its direct customers and customers of its dealers to provide the latest technological advances in agricultural equipment.

  “The Bio-Dynamic product features a Bio-disc, a toothed disc that breaks the ground near the plants, a Bio-Star head and a patented rubber star, which is available in different sizes,” Licata told The Grapevine Magazine. “Through its rays, it performs the inter-row processing and eliminates weeds near the plants.”

A Look at New Technology and Innovations

  Although many features of sprayers, mulchers, mowers and cultivators have remained the same for decades, there have been some useful updates to these machines recently. For example, vineyard owners can now buy sprayers with more nozzles per head for improved efficiency and with better airflow designs. Other modern developments include electrostatic sprayers, GPS navigation and automatic sprayer controllers and monitors for precise application.

  There are new laser cutting and robotic welding technologies used today on modern mulchers. Mulchers are also being designed now with higher resistance to wear over time.

  For mowing, vineyards can invest in robotic mowers for more precise cutting between grapevines with a central computation system. Sensor data to plan paths and automate motors with GPS positioning can help new mowers get closer to plants without damaging them.

  Meanwhile, cultivator manufacturers create more powerful models that work better in difficult soil conditions.

  “The Rinieri BioDynamic has the Bio-Disc group that is a new technology and innovation,” said Licata. “Machines are equipped with two discs for vineyards and work for other applications too, such as hemp and blueberries, while the orchard version has three or four discs.”

  “Equally new and innovative is the Bio-Star that is available in three different sizes, with a diameter of 21, 27 and 37 inches,” Licata said. “It has rubber spokes of three different consistencies – soft, medium and hard – so you can choose according to the type of soil and culture.”

  However, integration of new technology does not necessarily mean the product is better or the best suited for the vineyard’s needs. Continued education about new technologies will help vineyard managers make wise purchasing decisions and not complicate operations with minimal benefit.

  “Be wary of overly complicated ‘new tech’ output systems,” said Munckhof. “If you want to integrate new tech into your operations, I would recommend looking to computer monitoring and metering to aid in decision making and compliment a proven design.”

Maintenance Considerations for Towable Equipment

  As with any piece of equipment used in a vineyard, sprayers, mulchers, mowers and cultivators will need to be maintained and repaired over the years. If possible, talk with other vineyard owners and operators about the machines they use and their ease of maintenance. With regular use, it will be necessary to check for debris stuck inside the equipment and to assess the sharpness of the cutting blades from year to year. These are things to discuss with the manufacturer or dealer before making any major purchase for the vineyard.

  When buying any new agricultural machinery, read the owner’s manual to learn proper machine operations and maintenance. Reduce wear and tear by lubricating cables and chains and pressure-washing the equipment to prevent mud build-up, rust and eroded enamel coatings. A little extra work in maintaining machinery can go a long way in avoiding future hassles and huge expenses.

Final Tips and Words of Advice

  Munckhof told The Grapevine Magazine, “The best advice I could give to prospective buyers is to keep it simple and look for a machine that is a match to the crop they are trying to protect.”

  He also said to consider the product’s serviceability and what kind of support you can expect to get in the years ahead. “We have been in business since ‘79 and still see equipment from the early ‘80s in commercial use. Credit due to the operator’s maintenance, but also because we offer parts and support and because the machines are designed to last.”

  Similarly, Licata said the most important thing for an operator of a vineyard is working with a trusted machinery distributor that provides service, parts and support. “Although machines are built to be durable, when issues happen in the field, the support to getting back up and running as quickly as possible is essential.”