Episode 108: Increasing the Nutrient Density of Wine Grapes with Nicole Dooling and Michael Frey

Nicole Dooling and Michael Frey help operate Mariah Vineyards in the Mendocino Ridge alongside Nicole’s parents, Dan and Vicki. As founders, Dan and Vicki have mindfully tended their land for over 40 years, putting in the hard labor of planting and growing this vineyard from the ground up. Their family and vineyard have thrived due to their dedication, adaptability, and resourcefulness in working with nature. Situated at 2,400 ft elevation without irrigation, they holistically manage their vineyard using organic and regenerative farming practices.
In 2020, Mariah Vineyards partnered with the Savory Institute to pilot the Land to Market Ecological Outcome Verification program for vineyards worldwide. They are proud to be the first regenerative vineyard for Savory’s Global Land to Market Verified program and are dedicated to helping expand regenerative viticulture.
In this episode, John, Nicole, and Michael discuss:
How regenerative agriculture is a constant path of exploration and learning
Rewarding results coming from the process of trial and error
Different generations of growers working together
Cover crop management
Pruning for sap flow
Measuring and managing nutrient density
Additional Resources
To learn more about pruning for sap flow, visit: simonitesirch.us/ To learn more about the Savory Institute, visit: savory.global/ To get a copy of the Plant Health Pyramid, developed by John Kempf, visit: advancingecoag.com/growers-to...
About John Kempf
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.
Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition - a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.
AEA works directly with growers to apply its unique line of liquid mineral crop nutrition products and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting-edge plant and soil data-gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.
AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with its products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.
Beyond working on the ground with growers, AEA leads in regenerative agriculture media and education, producing and distributing the popular and highly-regarded Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, inspiring webinars, and other educational content that serve as go-to resources for growers worldwide.
Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products: www.advancingecoag.com
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VIDEO: To learn more from John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: • How regenerative agric...
#regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #sustainableagriculture #sustainablefarming #johnkempf #winegrapes #wine #soilhealth #planthealth

[@user-km6pz8gf6p]

Michael and Nicole, thank you for sharing your story. Your journey has been definitely one of regeneration, not only the vineyard but relationships. Your humility, respect, curiosity and pursuit of excellence is admirable. Your story of reconnecting with the previous generation of farmers is inspiring.
I am sure Dan and Vicki are proud. Their life work which commands respect and appreciation is being preserved by you both. Hopefully, this will pass on for many generations.

[@credenza1]

Thank you for another fascinating and valuable conversation. Nicole's comments about the health system are intriguing. She was being discreet, as I took it, and said less than she might have. I was surprised to observe over the recent period that some vineyards and wineries which professed ecological values were insisting that staff partake in a gene therapy experiment. The two positions are completely incompatible.

[@daiblaze1396]

Yeah farming heal at many levels : earth, souls, mind.

[@pilsplease7561]

I get rain in the spring maybe into early summer then nothing for the rest of the year. Southern California is brutal can get 8 inches of rain in a bad year like 40 in an amazing year. So that makes growing grapes tough because we have to water vines heavily to make up for the lack of rain.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

This was such an excellent epsiode!

[@larrysiders1]

Increased elevation increases the odds of freezing.

[@credenza1]

I find the S&S pruning method rather anthropomorphic in conception and surrounded with a mildly cultish atmosphere by adherents. I prefer the rigorous analytical approach of people such as Kaan Kurtural.

[@marcusyaboy]

Can you elaborate on the work of Kaan Kurtural? After a brief search it appears to be a philosophy in favour of mechanical pruning? What do you prefer about their work and how would you say it’s rigorously analytical?

[@user-km6pz8gf6p]

Michael and Nicole, thank you for sharing your story. Your journey has been definitely one of regeneration, not only the vineyard but relationships. Your humility, respect, curiosity and pursuit of excellence is admirable. Your story of reconnecting with the previous generation of farmers is inspiring.
I am sure Dan and Vicki are proud. Their life work which commands respect and appreciation is being preserved by you both. Hopefully, this will pass on for many generations.