106: 3 Sustainability Practices Every Vineyard Can Implement with Shiraz Mottiar

In this episode, Fritz talks with Shiraz Mottiar, Team Principal and GM at Malivoir Wine Company in Ontario, Canada, about three sustainability practices any vineyard can put into place, whether or not they are pursuing certification.

Shiraz shares the story of Malivoir's growth on the Beamsville Bench and his long involvement with Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario and research at Brock University's Cool Climate Enology and Viticulture Institute. Fritz and Shiraz compare certified sustainable vs organic approaches, focusing on how sustainability balances environmental care, community impact, and business viability.

Listeners learn how Malivoir manages soil health through semi-permanent cover crops, alternating tillage, compost and manure, and careful mowing to reduce erosion on sloped, clay-based sites. Shiraz explains how they trial biological soil and foliar products in small blocks, leaving untreated controls and collecting data like cluster weights before adopting anything widely.

Listen in to learn about the sustainability practices every vineyard can implement.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How semi-permanent cover crops and alternating tillage cycles can build soil structure and reduce erosion.

• Why Shiraz shifted from organic certification to a broader sustainability framework that includes economics and community impact.

• How to set scouting protocols and thresholds so you are spraying pests only when you truly need to.

• Simple ways to trial biological products using side‑by‑side comparisons and vineyard data instead of marketing claims.

• Why packaging and glass reuse may be the next major frontier for vineyard and winery sustainability.

Follow and Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more listeners. 💜 Click the '+' in the top right corner of Apple Podcasts to follow now.

Resources:

Have a vineyard question? Go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

Come grow with Fritz at https://www.virtualviticultureacademy.com! Save $75 off your first year of membership with the code Underground at checkout.

Today's Guest:

Shiraz Mottiar is a highly celebrated Canadian viticulturist and wine executive. He currently serves as the General Manager, Team Principal, and Winegrowing Director at Malivoire Wine Company on the Beamsville Bench in Niagara, Ontario. 

Connect with Shiraz - https://malivoire.com/

Episode Sponsor:

Today's episode was brought to you by Sunridge Nurseries and Clemens Technologies.

Thank you to Sunridge Nurseries for sponsoring today's episode. Sunridge Nurseries is the exclusive nursery sponsor of the Vineyard Underground podcast. They have been a family-owned company for over 45 years, and their dedicated focus on quality and consistency has grown them into the largest supplier of grapevines in both North and South America and the industry leader in nursery standards. Visit them today at SunridgeNurseries.com and mention the code Underground to receive a podcast listener discount on your vine order.

Thank you to Clemens Technologies for sponsoring today's episode. Clemens Technologies is the market leader in machinery for all elements of vineyard management. Visit https://www.clemens-online.com/us/ and provide the code UNDERGROUND to receive 5% off your order of in-stock machinery. Or reach out to Thomas Clemens directly at [email protected] with any questions.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.