Hop Disease: Viruses and Viroids

Hops are fruit, and plants are susceptible to four diseases in the United States. Three of these belong to the same family – American hop latent virus, hop latent virus and hop mosaic virus. The fourth and most important is apple mosaic virus. (more…)

When it comes to evaluating your business, are you more of a numbers cruncher or an introspective learner? Can you be both? Should you be both? (more…)

by Rebecca Jackson
When he first met his wife Wendy, Donald Furrow-Scott hated wine, but he was more than happy to help her and her parents, vintners Roger and Judy Furrow, plant Cabernet grapes in 1984 in the family vineyard near Smith Mountain Lake, VA. (more…)

by Hope Holland
With a full year of unusual and persistent rains that followed late spring cold snaps, any farmer in Maryland could not be blamed for feeling a little put upon. Add to that the threat of having the tail end of a large hurricane threatening you with more rain, and being darn well discouraged is almost a given, especially when it comes right in prime harvesting time. (more…)

by Courtney Llewellyn
Mead has been made across the world, from ancient China to ancient Greece, from the savanna of Africa to the tundra of Scandinavia. King Harald Fairhair united Norway back in the ninth century, and today one of his descendants, through many generations, is working toward uniting lovers of drink through his passion for authentic mead. (more…)

by Laura Rodley
The shutters are wide open again at Old Nick Williams Company Farm and Distillery and the aroma is delicious. The distillery was shuttered in 1919 due to prohibition. (more…)

by Enrico Villamaino III
Years of academic study and worldwide travel have led a West Coast couple to an unexpected place and occupation: proprietors of New Orleans’ only cidery. (more…)

by Karen Van Wyk
Nine years ago, Bittercube, a slow crafting bitters production company, was birthed. Two gentlemen, Ira Koplowitz and Nick Kosevich, left well paid bar managing careers to explore an exciting adventure in the creation and distribution of bitters. What kind of unique venture have they developed? (more…)

by Tamara Scully
In many vineyards, the prevalent practice is to have a grass alley with an herbicide strip under the vines. A focus on enhancing vineyard sustainability, through the implementation of practices that promote soil health, decrease nutrient and chemical leaching and minimize erosion, has led to research trials on the use of under vine cover crops. (more…)

Intention is often used to describe what a person is thinking or feeling, but it more readily defines a person’s aim or plan. Customers visit your business with a plan – to visit, tour, check out the surroundings and, hopefully, purchase a product or service. You and your employees are responsible for determining a customer’s intention and helping to fulfill their expectations. (more…)