Cover crops are increasingly important in sustainable vineyard management, yet species selection remains site-specific and challenging. We evaluated candidates in two commercial organic vineyards in the semi-arid Okanagan Valley, British Columbia—CFF (13-year Merlot) and KOW (10-year Zweigelt)—using a hybrid multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) [Analytic Hierarchy Process–Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP–TOPSIS)]. Nine in-row and 15 inter-row treatments (annuals and perennials) were evaluated in the 2019 growing season. Field measures included biomass, ground cover, interference with the fruiting zone, invasiveness, pest/disease effects, drought and winter tolerance, and traffic tolerance. In both vineyards, risk of invasiveness (~43–60%) and interference with fruiting zones (~30%) were the most influential criteria. The top under-vine annuals were Lens culinaris (spring lentil), Brassica napus cv. Winfred, and Brassica rapa (purple-top turnip) with high relative closeness (RCi = 0.87–0.96). Among perennials, Ladino Trifolium repens cv. Crescendo ranked the highest (RCi ~ 0.84), supporting its use as a durable under-vine cover. For inter-rows, Pisum sativum + Secale cereale (pea–rye) led at CFF (RCi = 0.89) and placed second at KOW, Trifolium incarnatum ranked second at CFF (RCi = 0.83), and Trifolium alexandrinum led at KOW (RCi = 0.94). Other annual clovers were intermediate (RCi = 0.79–0.88), performing best on finer-textured, cooler, moister sites. The leading perennial inter-row mix was Lolium perenne + Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus (tillage radish; RCi = 0.94), followed by a Festuca spp. mix (RCi = 0.65–0.69). This MCDA delivers clear, literature-aligned rankings and a data-driven framework to guide regionally adapted cover-crop choices and future web-based decision tools.
Beringer Vineyards Partners with Couture Bridal Designer Claire Pettibone to Reimagine Its Historic 19th Century Rhine House Bridal Suite
California’s Longest Continuously Operating Winery Enhances Its Rare Destination Wedding Offering October 6, 2026 (St. Helena, CA) — Beringer Vineyards, California’s longest continuously operating winery, today unveils a design partnership [...]


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