Episode
083: Plan My Vineyard with Callil Capuozzo
- Podcast
- Vineyard Underground
- Published
- Oct 28, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3530
- Processing state
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- https://f364ccd0-b8ab-4504-aea4-3e21b899bc22.libsyn.com/083-plan-my-vineyard-with-callil-capuozzo
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Summary
In this episode, Fritz sits down with Callil Capuozzo, the founder and owner of Overhead Vineyards in coastal Rhode Island. Callil shares his unique journey from industrial designer to vineyard owner and walks through the challenges of starting a vineyard on existing farmland. The conversation explores the critical early decisions in vineyard development — from soil sampling and drainage considerations to choosing trellis systems that suit humid, fog-prone climates. Callil's experiment with a pergola-style trellis, inspired by traditional Albarino vineyards in Rías Baixas, Spain, sparks a deeper discussion on airflow, spray coverage, disease pressure, and long-term scalability. Fritz offers practical guidance on establishing vineyard infrastructure, exploring options like high cordon or Watson systems, managing pests such as Japanese beetles and downy mildew, and the importance of fencing for deer and bird pressure. The episode also dives into variety selection, weighing the benefits of hybrids like Traminette, Baco Noir, and Itasca against the disease challenges of vinifera varieties. Listeners will learn how to match site-specific factors with smart vineyard design decisions and how to plan gradual expansion while keeping labor and management sustainable. It's an inspiring and technical roadmap for anyone looking to scale from first planting to a working vineyard. In this episode, you will hear: Site evaluation is essential — good drainage and slope can make or break vineyard success Trellis systems should balance airflow, sun exposure, and ease of labor Pergola trellises offer unique benefits, but can become challenging at scale Hybrids are smart choices for humid regions with high disease pressure Start small, expand gradually, and adapt systems as you learn Follow…