Viticulture (Grapes) | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

San Joaquin County remains a leading hub for viticulture, with wine grape production playing a vital role in the local agricultural economy. In 2023, the county's grape industry generated a total value of $393,887,000, making it the second most valuable commodity after milk. While this represents an 8.04% decrease from the previous year due to reduced acreage, lower prices, and market saturation, the sector remains resilient.

With approximately 81,600 bearing acres of vineyards, San Joaquin County continues to be a cornerstone of California’s wine industry. The Lodi American Viticultural Area (AVA) has gained increasing recognition for its premium varietal wines, further strengthening the county’s reputation as a high-quality wine-producing region. In addition to Lodi, vineyards across the Delta and South County areas contribute significantly to the thriving wine industry.

The industry remains a significant economic driver, supporting growers, wineries, and associated industries, reinforcing San Joaquin County’s reputation as a premier wine grape-producing region.

Quick Links

Pest Management

Provide guidelines on vineyard pest management including diseases, insects, weeds, and nematodes

Primary Resource:
UC IPM - Grape Management Guidelines
Additional Resources:
Grape Pest Management Manual (UC ANR publication)

Vineyard Establishment

Advice on vineyard establishment including site selection, vineyard layout, and planting materials.

Resources:
UC Davis Foundation Plant Services - Grapes
UC Davis Cost and Returns Studies - Vineyards

Varieties & Rootstocks

Descriptions and guidance for selecting grape varieties and rootstocks.

UC Davis Varieties Database:
UC Davis Grape Registry
UC Rootstock Selection Guide:
UC Rootstock Selection Guide
Foundation Plant Services (FPS) Varieties and Rootstocks:
FPS Grape Varieties and Rootstocks

Canopy Management & Vineyard Practices

Includes pruning, training systems, canopy management strategies, and vineyard floor management.

Pruning and Canopy Management:
UC IPM Canopy Management and Training
Cover Cropping:
UC SAREP Cover Crops Database
Practical Considerations for Canopy Management:
UCD V&E: Practical Considerations for Canopy Management (Presentation)

Irrigation & Water Management

Best practices for irrigation scheduling, drought management, and water use efficiency.

CIMIS Weather & Irrigation Tool:
California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS)
OpenET Satalite-based Irrigation Tool:
OpenET
UC ANR CropManage Irrigation and Fertilization Tool:
CropManage
AWRI Heatwave and Water Management:
AWRI Heatwave Management

Soils & Nutrition

Information on grapevine nutrition, fertilization guidelines, and soil management.

UC Healthy Soils for a Healthy California:
Soils for Farmers - Tips to build and conserve your farm soil
UC Grapevine Nutrition Resources:
Grapevine Mineral Nutrition NPK Guidelines (Geisseler Lab)
Grapevine Nutrition:
Mineral Nutrition and Fertilization (Christensen and Peacock)

Economics & Vineyard Business

Economic studies, marketing information, and financial tools for grape growers.

UC Cost of Production Studies:
UC Davis Vineyard Cost Studies (Wine grapes)
California Grape Crush Reports:
California Grape Crush Report (USDA)
USDA Grape Acreage Reports:
California Grape Acreage Report (USDA)

Events & Training

Upcoming UC-hosted events, webinars, and field days.

UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Events:
UC Davis Extension Viticulture Events
Small Vineyard Management I - Introduction to Vineyard Practices:
SVM I Course
Small Vineyard Management II:
SVM II Course

Research & Innovation

Updates on current research projects, collaborations, and scientific insights.

UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Research:
UC Davis Department of Viticulture
California Agriculture Journal (Peer-reviewed UC research):
California Agriculture – Grapes Section
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV):
AJEV Journal