In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Dustin Hooper, Vice President of Sales at Sunridge Nurseries, to take listeners behind the scenes of how grapevines are made. While growers see the final product when vines arrive at their vineyard, there’s a fascinating process that begins long before planting — starting with certified mother vines and continuing through propagation, grafting, greenhouse production, and certification.

Dustin shares his personal journey into the nursery business and offers an insider’s perspective on the complexities of producing clean, reliable vines for commercial vineyards. Together, Fritz and Dustin explore the differences between own-rooted versus grafted vines, the pros and cons of dormant bare-root versus greenhouse formats, and innovations such as tall and medium-trained vines. They also cover critical topics like soil and water testing, rootstock selection, and how clones are chosen to fine-tune vineyard performance and wine style.

A key part of the discussion is the rigorous certification process overseen by UC Davis Foundation Plant Services and state agencies to ensure vines are tested and free from major viruses before they ever reach a vineyard. Dustin emphasizes that selecting the right vine format, rootstock, and clone isn’t just about availability — it’s about long-term success, sustainability, and profitability.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the nursery side of viticulture and gain practical insights into how to make informed decisions when ordering vines for their vineyard.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The difference between own-rooted and grafted vines, and when each is appropriate

• Pros and cons of dormant bare-root vs. greenhouse-grown vines

• How tall and medium-trained vines can help in specific planting scenarios

• Why rootstock and clone selection are critical to vineyard success

• The rigorous certification and testing process that protects growers from viruses

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Resources:

Access Fritz’s Young Vineyard Management resources to protect your investment, grow your vineyard, and Be a Better Grape Grower in your first three years of vineyard establishment.

If you have questions about today’s episode or ideas for future episodes, go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button. 

Today’s Guest:

Dustin Hooper is the Vice President of Sales at Sunridge Nurseries Inc., and a leading expert in the grapevine nursery industry.

Connect with Dustin - https://www.sunridgenurseries.com

Episode Sponsor:

Thank you to Sunridge Nurseries for sponsoring today’s episode. Sunridge Nurseries is the exclusive nursery sponsor of the Vineyard Underground podcast. They have been a family-owned company for over 45 years, and their dedicated focus on quality and consistency has grown them into the largest supplier of grapevines in both North and South America and the industry leader in nursery standards. Visit them today at SunridgeNurseries.com and mention the code Underground to receive a podcast listener discount on your vine order.

Thank you to Shellt Grow Tubes for sponsoring today’s episode. Shellt makes the ultimate grow tubes for grape vines and orchard trees. Their grow tubes are reusable, recyclable, and designed to grow with your vineyard by clicking together for taller or wider coverage. I exclusively recommend Shellt Grow Tubes to the growers I work with. Visit https://www.shellt.us/ and order with the code UNDERGROUND to save 15% off all online orders, plus free shipping within the continental United States.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.