Inaugural ArcGIS in Viticulture User Group Meeting Recap
Connecting the Viticulture Community Through GIS
On June 12th, the North Coast viticulture community came together for the inaugural ArcGIS in Viticulture User Group meeting, hosted at the scenic Silver Oak tasting room in Alexander Valley. With over 20 attendees representing vineyards, wineries, and research institutions, the event marked the beginning of a collaborative network focused on advancing the use of GIS in viticulture.
Purpose and Community Goals
Cassie Meigs of Esri kicked off the meeting with an overview of the purpose and goals of community-led user groups, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and peer exchange. She outlined how Esri supports these efforts with technical resources, training, and professional services, all aimed at empowering users and shaping future solutions through community feedback.
Lightning Talks & Practical Workflows
The group then heard from several presenters sharing real-world applications of ArcGIS technology:
Summer Robers (Jackson Family Wines) demonstrated how vineyard teams can visualize and share data through ArcGIS Experience Builder and Hub Sites, offering take-home worksheets to help others replicate these workflows.
Meghan Ritter (Silver Oak Cellars) introduced a streamlined ArcGIS QuickCapture workflow for virus mapping—showing how simple tools can yield powerful field insights.
Dr. Sarah MacDonald (UC Cooperative Extension) provided a sneak peek of the Esri Pest Management Solution, giving attendees a look at how GIS can support proactive vineyard health strategies.
Shaping the Future of the User Group
The group engaged in an open discussion on how to shape future meetings and shared interests in topics such as:
IT infrastructure and server best practices
Demonstrations of successful workflows
Vendor and platform integrations
A hybrid approach to meetings, combining virtual collaboration with in-person networking
Hosting an annual industry seminar
Mappy Hour Networking
To close out the day, participants mingled over a glass of Silver Oak wine during mappy hour, continuing conversations sparked by the afternoon’s presentations and building new connections across the community.
Looking Ahead
The next ArcGIS in Viticulture User Group meeting is planned for August 2025 (location TBD). If you're interested in presenting, hosting, or suggesting a topic, please CLICK HERE to complete the form:
Together, we're building a vibrant, solution-focused GIS community for the wine industry!
