Ask most growers about the INFACO F3020, and they’ll tell you it’s one of the best electric pruning tools on the market. But what many don’t realize is that it’s more than just a high-performance shear—it’s a full farm system. With a quick-change system and a growing list of compatible accessories, the F3020 transforms into a fencing tool, a hoof trimmer, and more. That means one battery, one grip, many field jobs—all in the palm of your hand. In this article, we explore how the F3020 goes beyond vines, breaking down its multi-purpose capabilities and showing how farms can streamline their operations with a single versatile tool. Beyond vines: fence, hoof, trees, and more 1. Precision pruning across crops Let’s start with what it does best. With three interchangeable heads (Standard, Medium, Maxi), the F3020 is built for: Grapevines Orchard limbs (apple, almond, olive) Blueberry and cane fruit Citrus and stone fruit trees Blade selection is easy: Standard head for vine shoots

With the introduction of the Meritage Wine Opener, Vinotive once again delivers a professional-quality tool for the modern wine enthusiast. On the heels of their success with the Vinaer Wine Aerator and Vortex Somm Aerating Wine Dispenser, this product launch adds to their innovative, Danish-designed wine accessory line, combining form, function and style. When a sommelier or tasting room server speaks passionately about a wine, it creates a lasting impression — one that is enhanced by the products used to open a bottle, pour a glass or aerate a wine. “The whole premise behind Vinotive is to elevate the art of serving wine and the customer experience of going to a tasting room, appreciating the farmland and vineyards around them, and meeting someone who's passionate about wine on the other side of the counter. But how can they take that experience home? It isn’t just about pouring wine straight into a glass — somehow, that doesn't taste or feel the same.” — Stephen Thomson, the Co-Fou

By Jim Trezise, President of WineAmerica The National Association of American Wineries™ Romance vs. Reality It’s not surprising that people dream of getting into the wine business. Just think of it: Sunrise caressing the vines. Perfect weather again. A leisurely coffee while surveying the pristine landscape. A morning stroll through exquisitely manicured vineyards. A smoothly functioning wine cellar. A traffic jam of consumers eager to visit the tasting room. Multiple FedEx trucks waiting for wine club shipments. Ending each day counting the hefty stash. Celebrating with a dinner pairing your world-class wines with world-class food on your terrace overlooking paradise. Sleeping like a baby. Yeah, right! After spending their life savings and taking out a massive loan, new winery owners often discover a very different reality. Clouds mean rain when the grapes need to stay dry. Coffee comes from a drive-thru. License applications and tax forms cover the desk. Labor shortages mean critica

Your winery is your life's work. Your family's legacy. Your community's future. And right now, your insurance situation might be threatening all of it. The Silent Threat Most independent winery owners won't admit it publicly—there's an unspoken shame about struggling with insurance costs. But behind closed doors, the conversations are happening. Conversations about whether insurance premiums have become unsustainable. About whether your coverage actually protects what matters most. About whether you can afford to stay in business. The California FAIR Plan was supposed to be the safety net. Instead, for many wineries, it's become a financial anchor. Rising premiums. Shrinking coverage options. One-size-fits-all policies designed for the general market, not the unique risks you face every day. And then there are the real dangers—wildfires that have reshaped the entire insurance landscape, climate volatility that's becoming the new normal, and evolving business models the traditional insu

New ‘Sonoma County Wine’ Promotion Effort to Launch in 2027 The success of Sonoma County’s wine community depends on the success of its growers and wineries. Recognizing that today's challenges also present an opportunity to build a stronger future, Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) and Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) today announced the alignment of their winery membership programs to strengthen collaboration and create a more unified voice for Sonoma County wine. Today’s announcement follows months of meetings by a wine industry task force established by the boards of SCW and SCV to explore how best to serve the local wine community, improve efficiencies and eliminate duplication of programs.  The findings of a survey of nearly 100 local vintners helped provide direction to the task force as a clear majority of vintners “supported” or “strongly supported” exploring integration of the two organizations memberships to provide a more unified voice for Sonoma County.  

First-generation college students often face challenges that go far beyond tuition. This spring, Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship recipient David shared that he was struggling to balance calculus coursework, work hours, car payments, and the financial reality of transferring to Cal Poly. With support from Mentor Alex, former scholar Alberto Ramirez, and the Vineyard Team network, David worked through financial aid questions, career planning, and professional development. Now, he’s preparing to transfer to Cal Poly to study agriculture and has secured a Summer 2026 internship with Mesa Vineyard Management. The Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship does more than provide financial aid. Mentorship and industry connections help students navigate college and prepare for meaningful careers. Thank you to everyone helping support the next generation of industry leaders! Learn more >>> https://www.vineyardteam.org/scholarship/

More Storage. More Flexibility. One of the realities of harvest planning is that storage challenges rarely announce themselves in advance. Every year, wineries find themselves balancing fruit intake, tank space, case goods, barrel inventory, and temperature-sensitive storage needs. The operations that run most smoothly are often the ones that identify those pressure points before harvest arrives. That's why solutions like these Refrigerated Storage Containers tend to attract attention this time of year. Offering temperature-controlled storage and built-in rack systems, they provide wineries with additional flexibility for grapes, wine, inventory, and seasonal overflow when space becomes a premium. As the industry moves deeper into summer, now is the time many wineries are evaluating logistics, infrastructure, and operational readiness for the months ahead. View Listing The busiest times in the wine industry often reveal the importance of preparation. Whether it's securing fruit, sour

Join us to explore the tools, equipment, and innovations shaping vineyard operations right now — from robotics and automation to monitoring systems and precision ag tools. 📅 Wednesday, June 10 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm ➡️ St. Phillipe Vineyard | Soledad, CA 🎟️ Register now >>> https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2026tailgatesevents/event/techfieldday/ The morning begins with a discussion around the practical realities of adopting ag technology, including: 📊 ROI & long-term economics 👷 Labor challenges & efficiencies ⚙️ What’s working in the field 🌱 How technology fits into sustainable vineyard operations Then explore vineyard technology firsthand through field demonstrations and conversations with participating companies: • Agritech America • Agtonomy • AMOS • Burro • CLEMENS • Coastal Tractor • Cropmind • Cypress AgriTech • Hot Spot Ag • Kingman Ag • Lumo • Mid-Cal Motorsports • Parabug • Pellenc Australia • Ranch Systems Inc. • RDO Equipment Co. • Reservoir • SAGA Robotics • Sc

The biggest challenge in ag technology isn’t innovation. It’s building tools that actually work on the farm. In a recent episode of Sustainable Winegrowing with Vineyard Team, Craig Macmillan sat down with Matthew Hoffman, PhD , General Partner and Head of Farms at Reservoir, to discuss a growing challenge in ag tech: how to bridge the gap between promising ideas and practical vineyard solutions. Reservoir is taking a unique approach. Instead of developing technology in isolation, the company partners directly with growers to help startups test and refine tools in real farming environments before they reach the market. Their work focuses on specialty crops, including winegrapes, where vineyard variability, labor demands, and regional differences make technology adoption especially complex. Why Grower Feedback Matters As Hoffman explains in the episode, many startups entering agriculture have strong engineering talent and funding, but limited experience in production agriculture. Grower

What does that mean for the vintage? Budbreak came early to California this year, which by itself isn’t that strange. There are years when we’ve seen buds start to push by the end of February. But then what started as a warm February gave way to abnormally warm temperatures in March and early April. This accelerated phenological development even more. Traditionally, April 1st is the day when the count starts for growing degree days accumulation. But this year vines in many parts of the state already had more than a foot of growth by then, rendering this yearly measurement fairly useless as a comparison tool. By May 1st, I noticed bunch closure in a Central Coast vineyard…which in the words of the great Stephen Colbert, is just booboo banana bonkers. So what does a crazy early start mean for the vintage? What can we expect and why am I …cautiously optimistic? Water water everywhere… In truth, the growing season for grapes starts well before any buds push at all. I’m talking about winter