In his third year as the University of California Cooperative Extension’s integrated vineyard systems advisor for Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, Christopher Chen often can be found at vineyards across the region, measuring the impact of drought-resistant rootstocks, collecting data on temperature fluctuations and carefully examining the vineyard’s canopy.
“Agricultural production, and particularly viticulture and enology, represent a large industry in California’s North Coast counties, and the impacts of extreme climate conditions exacerbate the challenges associated with agriculture production and threaten the well-being of wine and grape industries,” Chen explained in a recent profile written by Michael Hsu, Senior Public Information Representative for the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. “Our goal is to minimize the impacts of extreme weather in vineyards; we focus on identifying practical and applicable solutions to issues resulting from extreme environmental damage to winegrape crops.”
One of Chen’s key areas of focus is smoke taint, a phenomenon caused by volatile organic compounds and phenolic compounds released by wildfires and prescribed burns. These compounds can severely impact the quality of wine, presenting a significant risk to wine grape production.
Chen’s ongoing research at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center – operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – aims to quantify and mitigate this risk. In his preliminary study, he found that vineyards located more than a quarter of a mile away from prescribed burns showed a 31% reduction in smoke exposure, offering hope for managing smoke taint risks in the future.
Beyond fire risk, Chen is innovating viticulture practices that will help vineyards adapt to a variety of climate challenges. His studies on rootstocks for drought recovery, along with his investigation into frost protection strategies, are helping local grape growers maintain production and improve efficiency without over-relying on precious water resources.
These studies are essential as California’s winegrape industry grapples with the growing impacts of climate variability. Chen’s research is not only providing solutions for today’s challenges but is also laying the groundwork for a more resilient wine industry in the years to come.
“It’s not just solutions to today’s problems we are investigating and educating stakeholders on, we also explore the challenges that are likely to become more prevalent in vineyards,” Chen said. “In years where water availability is sufficient, thinking about prolonged drought can be difficult, but it’s concerns like this that need to be in the forefront of our management and planning going forward so we are prepared to deal with them when they arrive.”
As the region’s wine industry continues to grow and evolve to meet new challenges, Chen’s expertise is guiding it toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
“This position not only allows me to explore my interest in grapevines, but it also gives me the opportunity to help grape growers gain the information they need to solve the problems of today and of the future,” Chen said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have the chance to utilize my knowledge in this way and also to be able to meet and help the people of California’s North Coast viticultural regions.”
The UC Cooperative Extension “provides research-based resources and expertise to enhance the well-being of California residents. UCCE supports agricultural, environmental and community-based initiatives that promote sustainability, resilience and innovation throughout the state.”
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