With more than three decades of viticultural experience in the Napa Valley and other California growing regions, Rich Nagaoka has expert answers for all of your viticultural questions. The Grape Doctor provides a broad selection of viticultural consulting services:

• evaluations of potential vineyard sites for owners and prospective purchasers
• vineyard architecture/design
• vineyard development -- planning and scheduling
• comprehensive evaluations of existing vineyards
• vineyard redevelopment studies
• optimization of viticultural practices to improve wine grape fruit quality
• nutrition, pathology, and entomology investigations
• autopsy testing and evaluation
• contract research and efficacy/residue studies
• expert legal testimony ("forensic viticulture")
• vineyard administration for absentee owners

Rich doesn’t favor guesswork in his viticultural practice. Instead, he completes a proper investigation – carefully assessing the soils, climate, varieties, cultural practices, etc. – before assembling the data and finally drawing conclusions. Where appropriate, Rich gathers input from additional experts, including engineers, geologists, pathologists, winemakers, and vineyard managers. He issues his recommendations in a Report Document that can be supplemented with an oral presentation.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the consulting services provided by the Grape Doctor:

Comprehensive Evaluations of Existing Vineyards.

• Confirm planted acres
• Validate varieties, rootstock
• Assess yields, maturity, vintner contract/prices, wine style program
• Investigate soil classification, depth, structure, chemistry, drainage, diseases, and pests
• Assess rootstock and scion for virus or disease
• Assess cultural practices
• Discuss wines produced with vintners
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Vineyard Development -- Planning and Scheduling.

• Varietal and rootstock recommendation
• Spacing
• Trellising
• Vine training
• Block design by soils, slope
• Propagation methods
• Irrigation requirements and methods
• Frost protection options
• Assessment of pests and disease risk
• Fumigation recommendation
• Planting schedule
• Estimate yields
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Vineyard Redevelopment Studies.

• Determine need to redevelop
• Assess productivity, pests, or disease problems
• Determine time line
• Assess varietal supply and demand
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Optimization of Viticultural Practices to Improve Wine Grape Fruit Quality.

• Identification of problems and defects in wine quality, and determination of relationships to viticultural practices (varietal selection, site-specific environmental conditions, trellising, nutrition, irrigation, etc.)
• Recommendation of remedial treatments and mitigation strategies
• Recommendation of vineyard redevelopment plan where required
• Will mediate relationship between vineyard owner/manager(s) and vintner (execution of timely harvest, pruning, irrigation, etc.)
• Ongoing evaluation of fruit quality and resulting wine characteristics
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Nutrition, Pathology, and Entomology Investigations.

• Diagnosis of visual symptoms
• Plant tissue analysis
• Soil analysis
• Nutrient formulation and application methodology (rates, timing)
• Design of experimental performance tests, and subsequent result measurement and efficacy analysis
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Autopsy Testing and Evaluation.

• Investigation of crop loss, vineyard decline, and vine death
• Diagnosis by visual  inspection, field research, testing, and lab assay
• Recommendation of remedial treatments
• Alternative mitigation strategies – alteration of cultural practices including use of biologicals and other organic strategies, environmental modifications
• Field triage and emergency field actions
• Long-term field testing and research grant studies
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Contract Research and Efficacy/Residue Studies.

• Troubleshoot and identify unresolved questions, environmental impacts, and research projects
• Formulate an appropriate methodology to address the question
• Design the scientific methods and identify goals of the research
• Apply for grant funding and submit funding proposal
• Identify and secure appropriate research sites -- vineyards, orchards
• Apply for any necessary permits and research authorizations
• Oversee cooperative relations among regulatory agencies, funding entity, and ownership
• Select replications, experimental units, and methodology
• Label and map replicates, sub-plots, and individuals
• Calculate dilutions, concentrations, methods, and materials
• File notice of intent to apply materials to regulatory agencies
• Apply timely treatments
• Record and maintain appropriate documentation in compliance with standard operating procedures
• Conduct post-treatment evaluations, and quantify and record readings
• Evaluate and report results
• Note: Research studies have included assessments of nematicides, fungicides, growth regulators, nutrition, and cultural practices.
• Note: Clients have included Dow AgroSciences, Mycogen, Elanco, Unocal, and Zeneca
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Expert Legal Testimony.

• Expert legal testimony is provided on subjects including:
• Property condemnation
• Grape purchase agreements
• Irrigation issues and annual water use estimates
• Vineyard soil and water suitability
• Crop loss from off-site drift
• Safe agricultural spray practices
• Pest and disease effects on vineyard productivity and longevity
• Determination of reasonable yields by variety, region, and soils
• Effects of vineyard cultural production practices on the environment
• Note: Clients have included CalTrans, California Dept. of Water Resources, Coldwell Banker, and the Sonoma County Sanitation District
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Vineyard Administration for Absentee Owners.