DRENCHING FLOODS IN CALIFORNIA, bitter cold and snow in the Northwest and absurdly seesawing freezes and thaws in the eastern United States remind us once again how little control grapegrowers have over their crops.

The best way to bring a little more order to this natural chaos is to make yourself as smart as you can. This issue is full of information for those who want to grow their own grapes more efficiently. The vineyard technology coverage consists of four articles, which will also help winemakers who don’t grow their own fruit but do want the tools to make themselves better grape buyers.