In Ambrook Research, Kathleen Willcox explores how wine growers are increasingly exploring alternatives to chemical inputs and machine-based farming, opting for bugs, raptors, and livestock instead. “For many, beginning to use insects, wild birds, and/or farm animals in the vineyard instead of chemicals and tractors will require, at the very least, a mental adjustment. And while adding insectary rows and bird boxes probably doesn’t require such a huge philosophical shift or a hefty financial outlay, recruiting a herd of sheep to do the weeding or trading horses for a tractor does.”

The owners of The Wonderful Company, whose holdings include Justin Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles, continue to invest in the Napa Valley with the recent acquisition of a vineyard near Calistoga, reports Kerana Todorov on WineBusiness.com.

In SevenFifty Daily, Caitlin A. Miller catches up with Washington, D.C.-based wine director Danya Degen, who has found success highlighting women-made and -owned U.S. wines made from nontraditional grape varieties like Barbera, Gamay, and Grignolino.

In Wine Enthusiast, Amy Beth Wright tracks the Malvasia Bianca grape around the world.

Michael Alberty highlights the wines of Savage Grace in the Oregonian.

A new study shows that humans first started growing wine grapes 11,000 years ago.

In the Hollywood Reporter, Elycia Rubin explores Santa Barbara Wine Country.