When occasional questions arise regarding the health and/or genetic characteristics of a vine or selection in the foundation vineyard, the vine(s) are put on hold.  Circumstances that trigger a hold designation are not certain or serious enough to cause a vine to be removed from the California Grapevine Registration and Certification Program.  However, materials are not distributed from vines on hold unless customers are informed about the concerns that generated the hold and are willing to accept all risks associated with the condition.

  Most "holds" are the result of questionable results from laboratory or field disease tests.  However, sometimes vines are put on hold because visual symptoms that may indicate general health or variety identification problems are noticed.  Each vine in the foundation block is visually inspected twice a year by the FPS Plant Pathologist,  Dr.  Adib Rowhani, and CDFA inspectors.  From time to time grape variety experts also inspect the foundation block and comment on variety names used.   Vines showing general health problems or symptoms of diseases such as measles or eutypa are put on hold. Vines suspected of being incorrectly named are also placed on hold.

  Vines placed on hold are reviewed periodically by Dr. Rowhani, other plant pathologists, and grape variety experts.  If further testing or observations clear the vine from suspicion of disease, genetic or naming problems, the hold is removed.  If questions persist, the hold remains and, if they are unquestionably linked to a problem that will adversely affect propagation materials, the vine is removed from the foundation block.