214: Patrick Riggs - Jack Neal & Son Vineyard Managment
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In this episode of Inside Winemaking, host Jim Duane interviews Patrick Riggs, VP of Viticulture at Jack Neal & Son Vineyard Management in Napa Valley, about the technical and philosophical aspects of organic viticulture. Riggs shares his journey from Wisconsin to Napa, driven by a background in soil science and bacteriology, and his evolution from a novice to a leader in sustainable vineyard management. The conversation dives deep into the practical realities of transitioning from conventional to organic farming, including strategies for managing vine mealybug through mating disruption, parasitic wasps, and targeted biological treatments. Riggs emphasizes the importance of soil health, water conservation, and adaptive management during drought, advocating for intelligent irrigation timing, canopy management, and the use of tools like spore traps and cover crops. He also discusses innovative solutions such as using ducks to control pond azolla, reflecting a mindset of continuous problem-solving. The episode concludes with insights into future vineyard design, including lower-density plantings, non-vertical trellis systems, and larger rootstocks to enhance drought resilience. Riggs underscores that organic farming isn't about dogma but about thoughtful, science-based decision-making tailored to each vineyard’s unique conditions.
Transitioning to organic viticulture requires a holistic assessment of soil health, pest pressure, and vineyard history—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Mating disruption pheromones now offer year-round protection against vine mealybug, reducing reliance on sprays and enabling more sustainable control.
Water management during drought should prioritize bud break and bloom to ensure fruit set, with strategic irrigation and canopy thinning to protect fruit from heat stress.
Canopy architecture is evolving toward non-vertical systems to improve shade, reduce heat exposure, and increase flexibility in vineyard layout.
Innovative, low-cost solutions like using ducks to control pond weeds demonstrate the value of thinking outside the box in sustainable viticulture.
Introduction & Sponsorship
Host Jim Duane welcomes listeners and introduces the episode's sponsor, Innovent, a winemaking software platform that streamlines vineyard and cellar tracking, compliance, and inventory management.
Patrick Riggs' Background & Career Path
Riggs shares his journey from Wisconsin, with a soil science and bacteriology background, to becoming VP of Viticulture at Jack Neal & Son. He discusses his academic path at UC Davis, early jobs with Luis Martini and Domain Chandon, and his return to Jack Neal & Son in 2020.
Jack Neal & Son: Business & Organic Philosophy
Riggs describes Jack Neal & Son as a full-service vineyard management company with organic farming at its core. He explains how the Neal family’s long-standing commitment to organic practices has shaped the company’s identity and client base.
Transitioning to Organic: Steps & Challenges
Riggs outlines the process of converting from conventional to organic farming, emphasizing initial soil assessments, weed control alternatives, and the shift from chemical to biological pest management. He highlights the importance of understanding root causes of vineyard problems.
Vine Mealybug Management: Integrated Strategies
“It's not like a silver bullet or like you would think of Movento or the neonicotinoids... The more you use it and the longer you do it, the better control gets. It's kind of a slow and steady approach.”
“It's not look at this new shiny thing. Let's use it. Right. It's how can we integrate it into what we're already doing to make us the clients, you know, more successful in what we're doing.”
“You don't want to lose-lose. And if you can't protect the fruit, if it gets half raisined, right? I mean, that's just yield and quality loss.”
“It's not like a silver bullet or like you would think of Movento or the neonicotinoids... The more you use it and the longer you do it, the better control gets. It's kind of a slow and steady approach.”
Host
Guest
Napa Valley
place
Jack Neal & Son Vineyard Management
organization
Patrick Riggs
person
Mark Neal
person
Innovent
organization
Surround
product
UC Davis
organization
Mating disruption pheromone
product
ducks
other
Wisconsin
place
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