Student Viticulturist – Arterra Wines Canada
For my first term with the UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op program, I have been working as a student viticulturist for Arterra Wines Canada in South Okanagan. As a student viticulturist, I help manage and care for grape vines that will be harvested for wine production in the fall. I work with many varieties of wine grapes including but not limited to: Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Shiraz. Projects I have worked on during this work term include: collecting grape bunch count numbers in vineyards to assist with crop yield predictions, pest management planning and data collection for leafhopper species and powdery mildew, and biomass sampling for experimental cover crop trials to increase nutrients in the soil and to promote native biodiversity and pollinators inside vineyards.
By participating in this co-op, I have learned much about the wine production process, pest management techniques, sustainable soil management, and what goes into large-scale agricultural production. Co-op is a valuable experience that allows you to take concepts learned from lectures and expand them by working hands-on in a real-world environment.