# 082: How Vines are Made with Dustin Hooper

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933/082-how-vines-are-made-with-dustin-hooper
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933/082-how-vines-are-made-with-dustin-hooper.md
Podcast: [Vineyard Underground](https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933)
Published: 2025-10-14T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://f364ccd0-b8ab-4504-aea4-3e21b899bc22.libsyn.com/082-how-vines-are-made-with-dustin-hooper
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f364ccd0-b8ab-4504-aea4-3e21b899bc22/VU_Ep082_master.mp3?dest-id=3650511
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/vineyard-underground-6280933/episodes/082-how-vines-are-made-with-dustin-hooper
Duration seconds: 4027

## Resource

In this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes Dustin Hooper, Vice President of Sales at Sunridge Nurseries, to take listeners behind the scenes of how grapevines are made. While growers see the final product when vines arrive at their vineyard, there's a fascinating process that begins long before planting — starting with certified mother vines and continuing through propagation, grafting, greenhouse production, and certification. Dustin shares his personal journey into the nursery business and offers an insider's perspective on the complexities of producing clean, reliable vines for commercial vineyards. Together, Fritz and Dustin explore the differences between own-rooted versus grafted vines, the pros and cons of dormant bare-root versus greenhouse formats, and innovations such as tall and medium-trained vines. They also cover critical topics like soil and water testing, rootstock selection, and how clones are chosen to fine-tune vineyard performance and wine style. A key part of the discussion is the rigorous certification process overseen by UC Davis Foundation Plant Services and state agencies to ensure vines are tested and free from major viruses before they ever reach a vineyard. Dustin emphasizes that selecting the right vine format, rootstock, and clone isn't just about availability — it's about long-term success, sustainability, and profitability. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the nursery side of viticulture and gain practical insights into how to make informed decisions when ordering vines for their vineyard. In this episode, you will hear: The difference between own-rooted and grafted vines, and when each is appropriate Pros and cons of dormant bare-root vs. greenhouse-grown vines How tall and medium-trained vines can he…

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## Transcript

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