PRESS Spring 2019 The Quarterly Newsletter of the VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION Vol. 35 No. 1

Winter Technical 2019 Breaking Down the Variables Of By Dr. Bruce Zoecklein Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech

onsciously or otherwise, many European vintners Cseem to know that the sustainability of their operation is inextricably linked to the ability to express the terroir of their site. The concept of terroir centers around the belief that a vigneron might produce Tony Wolf a that expresses the inherent The VVA added something new this year: A two-day conservative session led by dormant and distinguishing characteristic of pruning consultant Marco Tessari. The session, held in advance of the regular annual meeting, took place a particular ’s site and the at King Family Vineyards in Crozet in February. For more meeting photos, see Page 5. uniqueness of the . Most French appellations are based on this perceived exceptionality and VVA Wraps Up Annual Meeting have maintained their status and influence over the years, attesting Workshops Focus on Smart Vineyard Management to the concept of terroir. However, attempts to separate By Nate Walsh the kaleidoscope of variables VVA President, Walsh Family Wine including geology, geomorphology, soil, climate, the biology of the ne of the great joys of serving as president of the Virginia Vineyards Association vine, and human interventions have is the opportunity to participate in the planning of the association’s annual Winter proven difficult due to the mere OTechnical Meeting. I’ve learned a lot about growing wine at every meeting logical complexity of interactions. I’ve attended, and this year was no different. From the pruning workshop led by Marco Understanding terroir has been Tessari to the Petit Verdot tasting sponsored by the Winemakers Research Exchange, this compounded by the fact that year’s Winter Technical in Charlottesville provided an abundance of information for Virginia there are no accepted objective viticulturists. measurement tools, which has No meeting like this comes together without the efforts of a great many people, and I’d added to its perceived ethereal like to thank those who worked so hard on your behalf to make this such a great event. nature. Indeed, it would seem that See TECHNICAL on page 5 See TERROIR on page11 INSIDE Grower of the Year Science in the Vineyard A Look at Mealybugs The VVA recognizes Karl Hambsch for his How you can design meaningful Entomologist Douglas Pfeiffer takes an in- inspiring and innovative contributions. experiments in the field. depth look at this vineyard pest. PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 9

virginiavineyardsassociation.org REGIONAL REPORT

NORTHERN VA.: “All this ground moisture has made it very difficult to get into the vineyards with any type VVA BOARD of farm equipment.” 2019 By Dean Triplett the grower who reported negative 15 has Greenstone Vineyard experienced 50% primary bud damage in the President affected area. Nate Walsh inter of 2018-19 has been for In my vineyard, I’ve had zero problems so [email protected] the most part fairly mild, so far in my two most cold-sensitive varieties far as temperatures go. So far — Muscat Ottenel and Merlot — in the first Past President as precipitation has gone, it’s ten primary buds from the base of the . Tom Kelly Wbeen just a continuation of what we’ve seen Checking the wood of shoots in the rest of [email protected] since the fall. Rain, with a few minor snow/ my vineyard has also shown no damage as ice storms, has been the theme since . yet. Vice President Talking to other growers from around the It would be prudent for all growers to region and state has confirmed that we’ve all check for bud damage so that adjustments Todd Henkle been in the same boat. Since the beginning can be made to final pruning decisions. Also, [email protected] of October, we’ve had around 23 inches of as I write this piece, the forecast for the first rain here in central Loudoun. That’s on top week of March up here is for another cold Treasurer of the 8.8 inches we got in September. front dropping down from Canada. Winter Skip Causey As I’ve described before, the farm apparently isn’t quite done with us yet. [email protected] ponds around me have been at the tops of Besides the ongoing issue with excess their drainpipes since harvest started in precipitation, another concern that seems Secretary September. In my 23 years here in Loudoun to be voiced by many growers throughout Jim Benefiel I’ve never seen them this high for this long. the state is control of both Grape Berry The upshot of all this precipitation is that the Moth (GBM) and Spotted Wing Drosophila [email protected] ground is at maximum saturation and will (SWD). Both of these insect pests were stay that way for quite some time. widespread throughout the northern region At-Large Board Members All this ground moisture has made it very last year as well as many other parts of the Carrington King difficult to get into the vineyards with any state. [email protected] type of farm equipment. Growers with even As always, insect control and Integrated extremely well drained sites are having a Pest Management programs can be difficult Maya Hood White hard time getting tractors into their fields. to achieve successfully. Early action, starting [email protected] The prediction for the coming year is for with monitoring our vineyards prior to bud normal weather/rain patterns for most of us. break, is going to be essential in our efforts Advisor I certainly hope this turns out to be true. And to control GBM. Early sprays and frequent Dr. Tony K. Wolf I hope that last year isn’t the new normal. monitoring for SWD will also be crucial. @vt.edu As I said at the beginning of this report, Mike Newland of Walsh Family our temperatures this winter have been Vineyards mentioned the use of appropriate Business Manager relatively mild. At my site the coldest we insecticides at bunch closure for SWD Tracy Kirkman got was 1 degree above zero on Jan. 31. during a panel discussion at the VVA Winter info@virginiavineyards On Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, we got down to 8 Technical Meeting in February. He’s also above. The coldest day we experienced in recommending a Mustang Max spray with association.org our area was Jan. 31, and I received reports the fungicide Oxidate added at 15 degrees of temperatures ranging from negative 6 . Grape Press/Website Editors degrees to 5 degrees above zero on that day. Since Mustang Max is a restricted Bob Garsson & Chris Garsson One grower I’ve talked to, however, chemical, if you don’t have a commercial editor@virginiavineyards observed temps of negative 15 in one sprayer’s license, Malathion is a registered association.org very low section of his vineyard. Some insecticide for SWD. As always, check the observations of cold damage to primary labels of anything you spray for preharvest Special thanks to: buds have been reported in cold tender interval restrictions and all other precautions Dean Triplett, Douglas G. varieties such as Merlot and Vermentino. and prohibitions. Pfeiffer, Joy Ting, James S. Bud damage in the range of 0 to 20% seems to be not uncommon in the region, although See NORTHERN VIRGINIA on page 4 Turpin, Dr. Bruce Zoecklein

VVA Mailing Address P.O. Box 168 Waterford, Va. 20197 The Virginia Vineyards Association (VVA) provides Grape Press for general information purposes only. The views and info@virginiavineyards opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect any official position or policy of the VVA and are not a VVA endorse- ment of products, practices or services. Before adopting any practices discussed here or purchasing any product or association.org service, users should exercise due diligence and seek professional advice when appropriate.

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3 REGIONAL REPORT

NORTHERN VIRGINIA, from page 2 resistance issues needs to be forefront in our to be ready to hit the ground running when minds when choosing what to spray. spring does arrive. Another issue on the minds of many is Jason Murray mentioned during the Of course, grape growing east of the control of ripe rot. Due to the combined Winter Technical panel discussion that he Rockies, smack in the middle of our East damaging effects of GBM and SWD to the uses Oxidate at a 1% solution in a directed Coast, has never been easy. Why should we skins of grape berries (not to mention birds, fruit zone spray at the rate of 200 gallons of expect anything different now? bees, wasps and numerous other critters), water per acre after . This strategy along with at least two main disease along with other targeted SWD sprays pathogens, we find ourselves with a set of and robust trellis management all help in factors that work together to become the minimizing the effects of ripe rot. Become a complex known as ripe rot. Ripe rot may be one of our thorniest fungal Adding to the fact that the ripe rot issues in the future, especially if increased Regional Reporter pathogens form resistance very quickly to rain events at veraison/harvest become more our arsenal of chemicals means fighting common. rape Press is looking for this problem will take a multi-pronged On a final note to this report, with all the Ga grower who can write a approach. Any effort we can make to reduce moisture we’ve got in the soil at this point in short regional report four times a the damage done by GBM and SWD (along time, I’m expecting an explosion of growth year on conditions and activities with everything else), plus applying cultural as soon as warmer temperatures arrive. Even in the Southern Region of the practices that allow sunlight and airflow to if we get lucky and the weather turns a bit Commonwealth. the fruit zone will help in the fight. more “droughty” it’s going to take a while For more information or Also using appropriate chemicals to reduce the soil saturation we’ve had for to volunteer, please contact registered for ripe rot in addition to our so long. Editor Bob Garsson at editor@ normal fungicide program will be needed. Monster canopies could be lurking under virginiavineyardsassociation.org. And as always, an eye toward potential all our beds! This just means we’ll all need

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4 WINTER TECHNICAL 2019

VVA Wraps Up Four Days of Info Sessions

Photos by Bob and Chris Garsson

Clockwise from top left: Virginia Tech grape pathologist Mizuho Nita led a Grape Disease Management Workshop as well as an in-depth talk on ripe rot; Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring presented the VVA Grower of the Year Award to Karl Hambsch; meeting attendees participated in a variety of seminars; and Douglas G. Pfeiffer, right, Virginia Tech professor and fruit entomologist, received an award from Beckham A. Stanley, director of Government Affairs for the Virginia Agribusiness A blind tasting of Petit Verdot was conducted during Council, recognizing his service to the agribusiness industry. a session on research updates.

TECHNICAL, from page 1 that focused on state and federal agency as the VVA’s Grower of the Year. Karl is inspections. the first winegrower in Virginia to obtain First of all, there’s Virginia Tech’s Tony There were a number of sessions that organic certifications for both a vineyard and Wolf, who played a lead role in planning the highlighted current research, and of course a winery. In addition to making great wine, meeting. Tony is the VVA board’s technical we heard about current vineyard issues, Karl has been a source of inspiration and advisor, and few people have played a from ripe rot to mealybugs. advice for so many others entering the field. greater role in the growth and development I couldn’t complete this listing without And finally, let me say that the best part of of Virginia wine. acknowledging the superb work of our the Winter Technical Meeting is that it brings Also noteworthy were the presentations of business manager, Tracy Kirkman, who together so many of our members — the Tony’s Virginia Tech colleagues, particularly managed the hundreds of details that Commonwealth’s wine grape growers. This Mizuho Nita, Doug Pfeiffer, Peter Sforza, inevitably arise in managing a meeting like year, 186 VVA members attended, joined by Sylvia Liggieri, Tremain Hatch, Andrew this. 72 others including non-members, Virginia Ellis, and Beth Burzynski. And I’d like to express a special word of Tech faculty and exhibitors. It’s always great There are too many other individual thanks to our sponsors, who helped make the to mingle with old friends and meet others contributors to mention by name, but I think meeting possible, including Farm Family/ who share a dedication to . the sessions on our program say a lot about American National; the Vine to Wine Co-op, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone how much ground we covered. To cite just a Winchester Equipment Company, Lafitte again at our summer technical meeting few, we began the meeting with a Season in Cork and Capsule, and Vesco USA. — look for an announcement of dates on Review panel and moved on to a discussion I’d also like to congratulate Karl Hambsch our website — and, of course, out in the of winter injuries and a regulatory panel of Loving Cup Winery, who was honored vineyard.

5 WINTER TECHNICAL 2019

Grower of the Year ‘The Bold Spirit of Innovation’

Jack Looney Karl Hambsch, of Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery (first in the state to be organically certified as both a vineyard and a winery), is the VVA’s Grower of the Year.

By Bob Garsson test block of planted on the 150-acre Tech Professor Tony Wolf, viticulturist and Grape Press family farm in North Garden where he grew Director of the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural up. “The hollow has changed quite a bit in 30 Research and Extension Center. arl Hambsch, the first grower in the years, but it is the memory of that unspoiled “While Karl will be the first to admit Commonwealth to obtain organic ‘wilderness’ that inspires us to farm better,” that organic grape production is extremely certifications for both a vineyard Karl said. “We bring with us a commitment challenging and not for the faint-hearted, his and a winery, has been named to be responsible to our neighbors, our natural curiosity and acquired knowledge of KGrower of the Year by the Virginia Vineyards community, our watershed, and beyond.” his vineyard’s ecology is a model for others Association (VVA). Virginia Secretary By its first harvest in 2012, Loving Cup to help understand the complexity of pest of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring had three acres of grapes under vine. Today, management, whether it’s conventional pest presented the award to Karl on Feb. 21 at the the vineyard has grown to five acres and management or organic pest management,” VVA’s annual Winter Technical Meeting in includes three grape varieties: Cayuga White, Tony added. Charlottesville. Marquette, and Corot Noir. Karl majored in history at James Madison “With more than 300 wineries now in the VVA President Nate Walsh described University but learned about viticulture and Commonwealth, Virginia’s wine industry Karl as a pioneer in the development of while working at Prince Michel continues to grow, break new ground and forward-thinking Virginia winegrowing. Vineyard & Winery and Veritas Vineyard & plant the innovative seeds for future success,” “Karl represents the bold spirit of innovation Winery. He said his journey into winemaking Bettina said. “Karl Hambsch exemplifies and experimentation that is helping to push began with a crabapple on the farm that these traits, and his path to becoming Grower Virginia forward as a wine region,” Nate said. had provided fruit for a friend to make jelly. of the Year was a winding one. From history “In addition to making great wine, he has also When that friend was too busy one year student to providing fruit for making jelly been a source of inspiration and advice for to make jelly, Karl and his father, Werner, to winemaker, and ultimately to creating others entering the winegrowing business.” decided to use it in a different way. Virginia’s first certified organic vineyard and Karl has been a member of the Virginia “We followed an internet recipe, and made a winery, Karl’s innovative spirit, determination, Vineyards Association since 2005 and served crabapple wine that wasn’t half bad,” he said, and creative thinking have contributed to his as Secretary for one term. He has also been an adding that they followed up that experiment success and this well-deserved honor.” unstinting contributor to Virginia Cooperative by making different types of fruit until Karl started what would become Loving Extension’s “New Grower Workshops” they eventually moved to wine grapes, “and, Cup Vineyard & Winery in 2007 with a small and vineyard field meetings, said Virginia we were hooked.”

6 IN THE VINEYARD

Winemakers Research Exchange Experiments Can Lead to Smart Choices in the Field

By Joy Ting regimen to reduce disease pressure while anecdotally comparing to the previous year) Winemakers Research Exchange maximizing development of grape aroma. give the clearest answer as to whether the Maybe there was a new piece of new approach actually made a difference. s an industry, we look forward to equipment or a product you saw at one of And, implementing a new approach on a the annual VVA Winter Technical the vendor booths, or an idea you heard small scale first is less expensive and labor Meeting as an opportunity to from a colleague that you want to try out intensive. After testing on a small scale, you reflect on how the previous at your place. All of the above sound like know if it is worth it to scale up. Aseason unfolded and to fill our heads with great opportunities for experiments. If you are considering running a trial in great, new ideas for our vineyards in the There are many benefits of doing an your vineyard, here are a few things to keep coming season. experiment before you implement a new in mind as you set up. Perhaps Dr. Hemant Gohil’s talk about approach. Many of the new techniques and Identify which vines will get the new reviving a cold-injured Washington state equipment we hear about are developed and treatment and which will receive your Merlot vineyard made you think about your tested in other regions; experiments allow normal treatment, acting as a control. Aside own vine training in a new way, or Silvia us to see how these translate to our Virginia from the new treatment itself, everything Liggieri’s presentation on fruit exposure growing environment. else must be kept the same between the two has you considering a different -pulling Side-by-side comparisons (rather than groups. When choosing which vines will get treated and which will not, make sure the two groups are as much the same as possible. This means they have the same age, slope, aspect, and soil. If you are not careful about choosing your test plots, you may end up paying for a chemical or piece of equipment that you think is making a difference when another factor, such as the rock content of the soil, is responsible! Here are some other things to keep in mind to make your trial results as reliable as possible: • All operations must be identical between treatments. This includes any work, sprays, netting, and harvest decisions not being directly tested in the trial. • Test only one thing at a time. If you change both the leaf-pulling regimen and the fertilization scheme, you won’t know which one made the difference you observe. • Do replicates. Break your block into several sub-blocks and mix up which sub- blocks get the new treatment and which do not. Make sure you record the sub-blocks on a map or mark rows to avoid confusion. Replicates minimize the effects of small- scale differences in the environment, such as soil or slope. If the treatment you are testing is localized (not a spray) you could treat every other row, leaving intervening See RESEARCH on page 8

7 IN THE VINEYARD VWRE Offers Support for Experimentation

RESEARCH, from page 7 perception among people. sensory session. If you are interested in doing a vineyard If you are interested in doing an rows as a control. experiment this season, the Virginia experiment in your vineyard through the • Take separate data for each replicate. Winemakers Research Exchange would VWRE this year, please let me know and This will allow you to calculate how much love to partner with you to set up the we can start planning (VaWrex@gmail. variation is due to the location and how experiment and assist in analysis. com). much is due to the new approach and tell To qualify for WRE funding, the Whether through the VWRE, VT you if the differences are significant or not. experiment must produce grapes that can Cooperative Extension, or on your own, • Count or measure expected outcomes. be made into wine as separate (control and consider testing out that great idea you Observation is great, but finding a way treatment) lots at the production level (at heard about through the VVA and have been to quantify the outcome allows you to least one T-bin of red grapes or one barrel’s wanting to implement this season. Your compare the magnitude of difference in worth of white juice of each treatment). friends in Virginia wine will look forward a more precise way. If you need help If replicates are set up in the vineyard, to tasting your wines and learning from finding a way to count disease pressure, these can be combined for winemaking. your work! growth, or fruit development, contact The VWRE can help plan the experiment Virginia Cooperative Extension or the and the sampling regimen, facilitate testing (Editor’s Note: Joy is the research Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange of fruit and wine samples, and coordinate enologist and exchange coordinator for the (VWRE) for suggestions. blind tasting by wine producers at a Winemakers Research Exchange.) • Plan ahead and be practical. Set up something that will work for you and your team’s flow of work.

No matter how you set up your blocks, a good sampling regime is key. Make a The VVA Wants to Showcase Your Vineyard plan for sampling that ensures a good representation of the total area and follow If you’d like to see your vineyard show- the same plan at each sampling event. cased on the VVA website, virginia- Avoid sampling from the edges of the vineyardsassociation.org, send us a vineyard, as these will have confounding photo of your vines, your grapes or your environmental effects different from vines in the remainder of the block. harvest. Email photos to cgarsson@ Once you get to harvest, keep in mind gmail.com along with details about the there are more measures of quality than just photo and who gets the credit for taking Brix, pH, and TA. Many additional tests are it (please be sure you have the rights to available depending on the question you are have the photo published). asking. For example, phenolic testing can measure pigment molecules and tannin content. The microbiological community on the grapes can be measured with DNA Winemaking Consultant analysis. Winemaking Consultant Grape and juice samples can be frozen at www.winemakingconsultant.comwww.winemakingconsultant.com harvest and tested later for some tests, but you should check with the service lab for Thomas J. Payette 4 instructions to store or ship samples for the Thomas J. Payette tests you have chosen. Over twenty-five years of winemaking in Virginia, Napa and East Coast We produce a product that brings people Over twenty-five years winemaking pleasure. Ultimately, the success of a new approach in the vineyard should lead to Multiple Governor’sexperience Cup Winner improved quality of the finished wine, and 2011 Wine Productivity Trophy wine quality depends on how it tastes.

"1999 Winemaker of the Year" Many flavor molecules are difficult

to quantify with lab tests, but we can Phone : 540.672.0387 perceive them in blind tasting. Tasting [email protected] wine blind allows our sensory systems Winemaking solutions focusing on: to do the work of quality control without Winery and vineyard start-ups any bias we may have for one approach Still and sparkling wines or another. Group sensory analysis is General winery issues more accurate than individual analysis, as it accounts for the variation in sensory Food Science Degree – Virginia Tech

8 IN THE VINEYARD A Close Look at Mealybugs Identifying and Controlling This Grapevine Pest By Douglas G. Pfeiffer Viginia Tech professor and fruit entomologist

ou may have occasionally noticed white, oval-shaped insects, usually with long filaments extending from the hind end, on your grapevines, Yespecially on cordons or trunks. Or, worse, you may have run into much more numerous populations, especially following certain broad-spectrum insecticides. Mealybugs are a family of soft-bodied phloem-feeding insects that are widespread in vineyards, though in low populations they usually do little harm. Populations are most likely to develop on vigorous vines with heavy foliage that supplies greater shade and nutrition. Vine growth is vigorous enough that the vine can tolerate this type of injury Photos courtesy of Douglas G. Pfeiffer in most cases. When population outbreaks occur, a couple of negative things happen that An adult grape mealybug, above, and a nymphal grape mealybug, below, on grapevines in Virginia. I will expand on. Historically, the most common mealybug colonies on grapes, though the tendency assisted movement of the vector mealybugs. species in our area has been the grape varies among species. Their movement to mealybug, Pseudococcus maritimus roots, and spreading in that area, is facilitated Impacts in the Vineyard (Ehrhorn) (Pfeiffer 2008). Grape mealybug by ants (Daane et al. 2007). When I collected Feeding injury: The initial problem that is white with a flattened, oval shape (see mealybugs from grape roots in Albemarle results from elevated mealybug populations photo, top right). Filaments protrude along County, at least three species of ants were arises from the honeydew — the term used the perimeter of the body, with the longest present, the most common being smaller for the sap after it passes through the insect, protruding from the rear. yellow ant (Acanthomyops claviger), and after removal of nutrients. The honeydew Mealybugs, like other insects, also pavement ant (Tetramorium contains higher sugar levels. Honeydew have several immature stages caespitum) and thief ant accumulates on fruit and foliage, supporting called instars (an instar is a (Solenopsis molesta). the growth of dark sooty mold fungus (see growth stage between molts of When smaller yellow ants photo on page 10). the exoskeleton). First instar were collected into a container Sooty mold presents a cosmetic problem, nymphs overwinter in a white that contained a root sample mainly of concern in table grapes. In wine cottony bundle called an ovisac, with mealybugs attached, a grapes this is less of an issue, though if severe, produced by the female in the worker ant picked up a mealybug it can reduce . In addition, high fall. They become active in and ran around the container populations feeding on and near clusters can April or May, disperse over the in an agitated fashion. An cause clusters to drop before harvest. vine, and begin to feed at bases understanding of the role of ants Role as virus vectors: The greatest of shoots or pedicels of grape may provide a clearer view of economic impact results from mealybugs’ clusters. Numbers are usually not the epidemiology of grapevine role as vectors of important vineyard high enough for damage to be leafroll disease. viral diseases, notably grapevine leafroll- caused at this point. Grasswitz and James (2008) associated viruses. The most common Adults appear in late June studied the movement of grape mealybug in Virginia, grape mealybug, is a and ovisacs containing eggs are deposited mealybug between vines, including self- known vector of GLRaV-3, the most severe beneath loose bark. Young nymphs (see photo directed movement by walking, or movement of the eight types of grapevine leafroll. above) appear a few days later and may get aided by wind. Movement by either means Golino et al. (2002) reported that “... We into fruit clusters or feed on near veins. was limited. However, ant-assisted movement were able to confirm that four species [of Adults appear again in late August. All stages was not included. In a study of mealybugs mealybug] found in California — obscure, may be seen on vines in autumn. Egg-laying and grapevine leafroll-associated viruses longtailed, citrus and grape mealybug — can continues until cold weather, but eggs that do (GLRaV), Jones and Nita (2016) found that transmit GLRaV-3 isolates. This is the first not hatch before winter do not survive. movement of the disease was not affected by Most mealybug species can form root wind — this would be consistent with ant- See MEALYBUG on page 10

9 IN THE VINEYARD

MEALYBUG, from page 9 eastern U.S., would be a more problematic mealybugs in Virginia vineyards, and would species because of its greater number of like for growers with known infestations to experimental evidence of grapevine leafroll generations, and higher levels of honeydew contact me ([email protected]). In particular, virus transmission by obscure and grape production. if blocks infected with GLRaV are scheduled mealybugs. In addition, we report for the for removal, it would be very helpful to first time that GLRaV-5 can be transmitted Control of Mealybugs sample the vines, and in particular the roots, by longtailed mealybug.” Management of Biological control: Various natural as vines are removed. mealybugs will be critical to the management enemies normally keep mealybug numbers in of GLRaV (Cooper et al. 2018). check. Most predators are generalists. Several References In an earlier survey of mealybugs in Virginia species of lady beetles feed on mealybugs, as Cid, M., S. Pereiro, C. Cabaleiro, and A. Segura. (part of a larger study on grapevine viruses), do predatory midge larvae. Species involved 2010. Citrus mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Jones (2016) identified 100 mealybugs, movement and population dynamics in an arbor- have not been determined in our area. trained vineyard. J. Econ. Entomol. 103: 619-630. composed of 67 grape mealybugs, 31 Gill’s Parasitoids also attack mealybugs; some of Cooper, M. L., M. P. Daugherty, D. R. Jeske, R. mealybugs, and 2 obscure mealybugs; vine these species specialize in mealybugs. Avoid P. P. Almeida, and K. M. Daane. 2018. Incidence mealybug was not found. It would be useful the use of insecticides that are disruptive to of grapevine leafroll disease: Effects of grape to survey mealybugs in root infestations, populations of natural enemies; parasitoids mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus) abundance especially in outbreak conditions. often provide important natural control of and pathogen supply. J. Econ. Entomol. 111: 1542– In California, where mealybugs have been mealybugs. 1550. more studied, the list of vineyard-infesting Cultural control: Preventing over- Daane, K. M., K. R. Sime, J. Fallon, and M. mealybugs includes grape mealybug, obscure fertilization can help avoid high populations L. Cooper. 2007. Impacts of Argentine ants on mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), of mealybugs. Stripping of loose bark mealybugs and their natural enemies in California’s coastal vineyards. Ecol. Entomol. 32: 583-596. longtailed mealybug, Pseudococcus Daane, K. M., M. C. Middleton, R. F. H. longispinus (Targioni-Tozzeti, citrophilus Sforza, N. Kamps-Hughes, G. W. Watson, R. mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae P. P. Almeida, M. C. G. Correa, D. A. Downie, (Maskell), vine mealybug, Planococcus and V. M. Walton. 2018. Determining the ficus (Signoret), citrus mealybug, geographic origin of invasive populations Planococcus citri (Risso), pink hibiscus of the mealybug Planococcus ficus based on mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus molecular genetic analysis. PLoS One 13: (Green), Gill’s mealybug, Ferrisia gilli e0193852. Gullan. Daane, K. M., R. P. P. Almeida, V. A. Bell, J. T. S. Walker, M. Botton, M. Fallahzadeh, Citrus mealybug is important M. Mani, J. L. Miano, R. Sforza, V. M. in vineyards in Spain and Brazil Walton, and T. Zaviezo. 2012. Biology and (Cid et al. 2010). Other continents management of mealybugs in vineyards, pp. harbor additional grape-feeding 271-307. In N. J. Bostanian, C. Vincent and species. Some of these species are R. Isaacs (eds.), Arthropod Management in not known to occur in the East. Their Vineyards: Pests, Approaches, and Future introduction into Virginia would Directions. Springer, Dordrecht, The greatly complicate management. For Netherlands. 505 p. example, vine mealybug is known only Golino, D. A., S. T. Sim, R. Gill, and A. from California, where it has posed Rowhani. 2002. California mealybugs can Honeydew-associated sooty mold in a grape cluster. spread grapevine leafroll disease. Calif. a disproportionate problem because Agric. 56: 196-201. of its greater number of generations, Grasswitz, T. R., and D. G. James. 2008. greater honeydew production, and increased can expose mealybugs to other mortality Movement of grape mealybug, Pseudococcus tendency to occur on grape roots (Daane et factors. Where grape mealybug is expected maritimus, on and between host plants. Entomol al. 2012). Vine mealybug was introduced into to be a problem, it is more severe on late- exp. applic. 12. California from Israel (Daane et al. 2018). ripening varieties. Early-maturing varieties Jones, T. 2016. Grapevine viruses and associated Grape mealybug is by far the most are harvested before the second (summer) vectors in Virginia: Survey, vector management, common in eastern states. Vine mealybug is generation has had much of an impact. and development of efficient grapevine virus more bluntly oval and with short terminal Chemical control: If infestations are severe testing methods. Ph.D. dissertation. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. 225 p. filaments, compared with the more elongate at harvest, apply a delayed dormant spray the Jones, T. J., and M. Nita. 2016. Spatio-temporal oval and long terminal filaments of the other following spring. This may provide adequate association of GLRaV-3-infected grapevines, two species. control; a summer spray may be needed. and effect of insecticidal treatments on mealybug Mealybugs release a defensive secretion, In our pest management guide for populations in Virginia vineyards. Eur. J. Plant called ostiolar fluid, when disturbed. Ostiolar vineyards (Pfeiffer et al. 2019), insecticides Pathol. 145: 885–900. fluid produced by grape mealybug is reddish of several modes of action are included. Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Major insect and mite pests in color; in other species it is clear (Daane et When broad-spectrum insecticides are of grape in eastern North America, pp. 241-261, al. 2012). Mealybugs collected from grape included, it is because these may be 307-313. In T. K. Wolf (ed.), Wine Grape Production roots in Albemarle County in 2018 lacked the needed for other pests (e.g. Spotted Wing Guide for Eastern North America. Natural Resource, long caudal filaments of grape mealybug, and Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES), Drosophila). Remember that such materials Ithaca, NY. had clear ostiolar fluid. may act to flare populations of mealybugs, Pfeiffer, D. G., A. B. Baudoin, J. C. Bergh, and The identity of this mealybug species is and vigilance will be needed. M. Nita. 2019. Grapes: Diseases and insects in pending, but is not grape mealybug (Daane vineyards, pp. 3-1 – 3-17, 2019 Pest Management personal communication). It resembles vine Future Work Guide for Horticultural and Forest Crops. Va. Coop. mealybug; this species, unknown in the We would like to continue work on Ext. Pub. 456-017. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.

10 IN THE VINEYARD Breaking Down Terroir Variables TERROIR, from page 1 define the physical traits; that is, a unit of land characterized by a relatively homogenous there are an ample number of winegrowers pattern of topography, climate, geology and “It has been suggested that deny its true existence. soil (Laville, 1993, Cary et al., 2002). that the best variety for a In Deism and ancient Greek skeptical The Quinta Classification System used philosophy nothing is really known or in the Douro Valley of Portugal is a type of site is one that matches understood with certainty. This conundrum NTU system that attempts to rank important the length of the growing and its consequences are illustrated in a tale I vineyard parameters significant to terroir would tell my Virginia Tech students. expression. Each vineyard is classified season so that fruit John Green worked in a unionized factory according to a point system with a maximum maturation occurs during where management had proposed a lucrative value allocated for each category listed below. the portion of the season settlement, with strings attached. One binding The higher the total score, the greater the requirement was that all employees must sign value of their crop. Note that the soil category that is cool, but warm the agreement. On the final day of reckoning below is specific to the two soil types found enough to allow the fruit the only hold-out was Green. To him, this in the region: schist, granite, or a mixture of covenant was way too confusing, too difficult the two. to continue to accumulate to comprehend. aroma/flavor and phenols.” Frustrated that months of negotiations * Location (600) would be lost, the company president called * Aspect (250) Green to his 7th floor penthouse office. * Altitude (150) Exasperated, the boss said to Green: Either * Gradient (100) the vintage had the strongest effect on most sign up or I will toss you out of this 7th floor * Soil (100) variables followed by soil type and cultivar. window right now. Without hesitation, Green * (60) The influences of climate were shown to be immediately jumped up from his chair and * Varieties (150) largely mediated though vine water status affixed his name to the contract. Surprised, * Vine age (60) studies. The following is a further elaboration the boss asked — why didn’t you do that * Vine density (50) on terroir. before? Green’s reply — nobody explained it * (150) quite as well as you just did! * Maintenance (100) Soil Despite the vast literature on the subject, The concept of terroir is positioned what terroir really is and how it is derived White et al (2007) highlighted the around the sensory expressions derived remains elusive. importance of scaling (looking at sub-block from a particular place. At the heart of this Recently, Professor Pascal Duran and I variations) in evaluating terroir, which they perception is the land. Traditionally, vines led a winegrowers Technical Study Tour appear to follow. This system catalogs what were considered essentially an extension to Portugal where terrior was a frequent local producers believe is important to the of the land from which they were grown, discussion topic. Portugal’s wine industry has proper match among cultivar, climate and hence the term gout de terroir or taste of the undergone a dramatic modernization since soil. land. This certainly made sense; after all, a the country joined the European Union in Are these the unifying factors that define Burgundy Grand Cru tastes different than a 1986, yet it remains traditionally-based. terroir? If so, is the Portuguese hierarchy Premier Cru. Historically, there were two wine industries, correct? Are these universal? As suggested The importance of the soil as the defining one producing Port, the other dry table wines. by van Leeuwen (2010), if cultivar is more factor basically went unchallenged until Today, many are making fine table wines, important than soil or climate, wines should the proliferation of the industry in the New while prestigious Port firms have moved into be sold by the name of the cultivar. If World (Foulkes 1994). The production of table wine production as well. For such a soil and climate are most important in the high-quality wines on a wide range of soils small country (about the size of Kentucky), manifestation of terroir, wines should be prompted further evaluation. Portugal generates a remarkable diversity of sold by region. If human factors are decisive, The soil parameters of potential importance wines, as the contrast between Vinho-Verde perhaps wines should be marketed primarily are thought to include: texture, mineral and Ports would suggest. by brands. composition, color, biological activity, Portugal grows 343 varieties of grapes, Studies over the years have attempted to temperature, depth, and water holding many ancient and rare, with 267 unique evaluate the influences of cultivar, climate capacity. Those components believed to be to the Iberian Peninsula (Grassa 2018). and soil on both viticulture parameters and central to fertility and terroir expression With a tightening market and a changing fruit chemistry (Rankine et al., 1971, van include the physical, chemical, and the climate, “new” varieties will likely become Leeuwen et al., 2004, Ubalde et al., 2007). hydrolytic nature of the soil (van Leeuwen increasingly important to U.S. producers. These results suggested pH, acidity, malic 2010). Whatever it is, terroir can be divided into acid, tartaric acid and fruit were Within this spectrum Seguin (1986) two realms: the physical characteristics of primarily influenced by climate conditions attempted to find the unifying feature(s) a site and the organoleptic properties of the of the vintage, all other factors being equal. common to high-quality sites. His research wines originating from that site. The term Fruit nitrogen (YAN) was mainly influenced natural terroir unit (NTU) has been used to by soil. Overall, the climatic conditions of See TERROIR on page 12

11 IN THE VINEYARD The Many Variables of Terroir TERROIR, from page 11 For most white varieties, low vine nitrogen 2004). may be a detriment due to the potential limit As such, soils may intervene by limiting suggested two dominant clusters: water in the production of aromatic compounds climate and particularly hydrolytic extremes. availability and soil structure. such as thiols, important in varieties such as According to Randal Grahm (2018), the Subsequent efforts have confirmed that Sauvignon Blanc (Chone et al., 2006). ability to provide moisture to the plant in a terroir expression is correlated to water Additionally, white wine varieties with low thrifty and measured way is essential. deficits (van Leeuwen et al., 2004, 2019). plant nitrogen (N) produce low fruit N and In most of the northern hemisphere, harvest Vine water status is influenced by rainfall, relatively lower concentrations of glutathione generally takes place between about Sept. 10 evaporation, soil water-holding capacity and (Chone et al,. 2006). Glutathione is a naturally and Oct. 10. We know that photosynthesis vineyard management. occurring peptide that is an important white maximum occurs when the air temperature Most renowned winegrowing regions have wine antioxidant (see Enology Notes # 144 at is around 25 0 C, while optimal temperatures an annual rainfall between 300 and 1000 mm www.vtwines.info). As was discussed during for and aroma/flavor are between (12-39 inches) per year. It is thought that the our Portugal visit, more effort should be 17-26 0 C (Jackson and Lombard 1993). production of high-quality wines expressing directed at nitrogen requirements for specific Therefore, it has been suggested that the terroir requires at least moderate water deficit cultivars on specific soil types and climates. best variety for a site is one that matches stress in at least part of the season. That the great red wines of the world the length of the growing season so that According to Greenspan (2019), the “magic fruit maturation occurs during the portion window” for moisture stress for Cabernet of the season that is cool, but warm enough Sauvignon in California’s North Coast is two to allow the fruit to continue to accumulate weeks before veraison and through veraison, “Research has aroma/flavor and phenols. As such, it is followed by stress reduction. This may be easy to imagine that climate change may an advantage for arid climate vineyards in demonstrated that vine require either changing cultivars or changing that it is easier to add than withhold water in water status may have a locations in order to continue to optimize excessively rainy seasons. terroir. Moisture deficiency just prior to veraison stronger influence on wine increases the plant hormone abscisic acid style and quality than soil Microbiological Terroir and (ABA), which stimulates the production Human Intervention of anthocyanin, tannin phenols and mineral composition.” Although a good soil should have adequate glycoconjugates — important aromatic microbiological flora to aid in mineralization, precursors in grapes (Pirie and Mullins 1976). there has been little scientific evidence to Research has demonstrated that vine definitively link soil microbes and terroir (van water status may have a stronger influence are produced mainly on limestone soils is Leeuwen 2010), although such an association on wine style and quality than soil mineral a commonly held belief. The presence of would appear logical. composition (van Leeuwen et al., 2009). Soils calcium in the soil is said to improve the Yeasts and bacteria are part of a complex that allow for moisture deficit at the proper soil structure, thus enhancing soil drainage. series of interactions where competition, time are deemed most desirable, suggesting Active calcium carbonate reduces soil organic equilibrium and collaboration form a dynamic hydrology as a major terroir parameter (van matter turnover, thus limiting plant nitrogen ecosystem. Even with the addition of sulfur Leeuwen 2010). availability. dioxide and cultured yeasts to a must, a The mineral content of the soil has received As such, good vineyard soils for red wines portion of the fermentation can be conducted a lot of attention with regard to terroir are thought to be those that help limit yield by other, native organisms (Bokulich et al., expression. Historically, French literature and vine vigor by limiting water supply and 2013) suggesting the importance of the reported links between certain minerals and available nitrogen, two important terroir microbial ecology. wine sensory attributes. Soil components features (van Leeuwen et al., 2000). It seems logically intuitive to me that human that are believed to be of greatest importance imprint can be part of terroir representation. include nitrogen, potassium and calcium (van Climate Consider the famed Vougeot, a Burgundy Leeuwen 2010). It is easy to imagine that climate has an Grand Cru. The clos is a 142-acre parcel with Vine nitrogen availability is related to soil important influence on terroir expression 82 different owners! Even among subplots type, depth, and moisture, and rises with through the complex interactions affecting that share exactly the same pedigree, broad increases in organic matter (Keller 2010). plant physiology: temperature, rainfall, vapor differences in grower and winemaking inputs During our Portugal visit, winegrowers pressure, evapotranspiration (ETo) sunshine result in very different wines, some superior, discussed the prevalent attitude that vineyards hours, and wind. some very ordinary. producing high-quality red wines receive Climate is influenced by many physical very limited nitrogen fertilization, a practice site components, including: topography, The Sensory Expressions of Terroir referred to as regulated nutrient deficiency altitude, aspect, slope, and terrain. However, Several studies have evaluated the (RND) (Keller 2010). in the final analysis, it may be that the most relationships among descriptors and terroir Limiting nitrogen uptake for red-fruited important feature differentiating good sites (Robinson et al., 2012, Lund et al., 2009), varieties reduces vine vigor, berry weight, is the ability to resolve climatic challenges, including the use of the term, “minerality.” and yield, while increasing anthocyanin and specifically to drain water in the event of tannin concentration (Chone et al., 2006). excessive precipitation (van Leeuwen et al., See TERROIR on page 13

12 IN THE VINEYARD

TERROIR, from page 12 the Douro, and knowledge in general, is to grape composition and wine quality - A review. Am. understand the importance of relativity. That J. Enol. Vitic. 44: is, what information is true and universally Keller, M. (2010). The science of grapevines. Habitually used but poorly defined, this term Anatomy and Physiology. Elsevier. New York, N.Y. has been called the Holy Grail of terroir correct under all circumstances, and what Laville, P. (1993). Units de terroir naturel et terroir. (Patterson and Buechsenstein 2018). information is specific to time, place, and Une distinction necessaire pour redonner plus de Soil minerals are neither particularly local conditions? coherence au systeme d’appellation d’origine. Bull. volatile nor aromatic. While vines require Some suggest that terroir may be more of O.I.V. 745-746, 227-251. minerals, those in wines are nutrient elements, a belief system than a true reality, pointing Lund C, et al (2009). New Zealand Sauvignon typically cations. These are only distantly out that the concept of terroir is not entirely blanc distinct flavor characteristics: Sensory, related to vineyard geological minerals which science-based. Is science underpinning a chemical and consumer aspects. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. requirement? Science appeals to our rational 60. No 1. are complex, often crystalline compounds Patterson T. and J. Buechsenstein (2018). Wine that lack flavor. Despite this dichotomy, the brain, but many of our beliefs are based on and Place. A terroir reader. University of California term minerality is repeatedly used to describe emotion, not science. Press. Oakland, Calif. either aromas, flavors, or both, as was done According to social scientists, the biggest Pirie A. and M. Mullins (1976). Change in often by our Portuguese hosts. influence is our association with our anthocyanin and phenolic content of grapevine leaf Flinty is an equally interesting descriptive peers, providing what is termed tribal or and fruit tissues treated with sucrose, nitrate and term, particularly when one notes that flint is conformational bias. As Blaise Pascal wrote: abscisic acid. Plant Physiol., 55, 468-472. “The heart has reasons that reason does not Rankine B., Fornachon J., Boehm E. and Cellier essentially silicon dioxide, which has no odor. K. (1971). Influence of grape variety, climate and soil Psychologists and sensory scientists have know.” on grape compositions and on the composition and evaluated its use in describing wines. The Perhaps those looking for a purely-science quality of table wines. Vitis 10, 33-50. term is often associated with the perception grounded explanation of terroir should Robinson A.L., Adams D., Boss P., Heymann, H., of edges or sharpness and frequently used consider the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle Solomon P., and Trengrave R. (2012). Influence of to describe wines which are high in acidity (the position and velocity of a particle cannot geographic origin on the sensory characterizes and (Patterson and Buechsenstein 2018). be measured simultaneously). wine composition of L cv. Cabernet One theory regarding the use of this term Well beyond particle physics, Heisenberg Sauvignon wines from Australia. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. suggested a disturbing fact about human 63.no 4. 467-479. is that it is strongly associated with reductive Seguin, G. (1986). and pedology of wine winemaking conditions (See Enology Notes knowledge: it has its limits. Uncertainty is growing. Experientia, 42, 861-873. #160 at www.vtwines.info). High calcium embedded in nature itself, so why not in our Ubalde, J., Sort X., Poch R. and Porta M., (2007). content soils frequently produce low fruit understanding of terroir? Like a Zen coagon Influence of edaphp-climate factors on grape quality nitrogen. It is believed that this impacts — what is the sound of one hand clapping — in Conca de Barbera vineyards. J. Int. Sci.Vigne Vin, yeast metabolism, specifically triggering the there may not be answers to some questions, 41,33-41. production of reductive-type metabolites. The including what defines your wines? van Leeuwen, C. 2010. Terrior: the effect of the physical environment on vine growth, grape ripening resulting wine is in a reductive state, perhaps and wine sensory attributes. In Managing Wine enhancing the perception of terroir features. References Quality. A. C. Reynolds, ed. Pp 274-315. Bokulich, N A et al., (2013). Microbiology of Heymann et al (2014) reported the following van Leeuwen C., Tegoat O., Chone X., Bois B., winegrapes in conditioned by cultivar, vintage and correlations with the term minerality, Pernet D. and Gaudillere J.P. (2009). Vine water climate. In: Proceeding of the National Academy of status is the key factor in grape ripening and vintage reinforcing the idea that terroir expression Sciences. quality for red . J. Int. Sci. Vigne Vin appears to be greatest in wine under reductive Carey, V., Archer, E., and D. Sasyman (2002). 43:3, 121-134. conditions vs. under oxidative circumstances: Natural terroir units: What are they? How can they van Leeuwen C., Friant P., Chone X., Tegrot help the wine farmer? Feb 1. Viticulture research, * Positive correlation with acid taste, malic O., Kounouras S. and Dubourdiew D. (2004). The Winetech Technical. acid, tartaric acid, and titratable acidity; influence of climate, soil and cultivar on terroir. Am Chone X, Lavigno-Cruege V., Tominage T., * Positive correlations with descriptors J. Enol. Vitic. 55, 207-217. van Leeuwen C., Castagnede C., Sauier C., and such as citrus, fresh, wet stone; van Leeuwen C., Fraint P., Soyer P.J., Molot C., Dubourdieu D. (2006). Effects of vine nitrogen Chone X., and Dubourdieu D. (2000). L’ interet due * Negative correlations with descriptors status on grape aromatic potential: flavor precursors, dosage de l’ azote total et l’ azote assimiblable dans such as butter, butterscotch, vanilla and oak. glutathione and phenolic content in Vitis vinifera L., le mout comme indicateur de al nutrition azote de la cv. Sauvignon blanc grape juice J. Int. Sci Vigne Vine vigne. J. Int. Sci. Vigne Vine, 34,75-82. What Does All This Mean? 40, 1-6. White R., Balachandra L., Edis R., and Chen D. Foulkes C. (1994). Larousse Encyclopedia of It is safe to say that New World palates are (2007), The soil components of terroir. J. Int. Sci Wine. Paris: Larousse. not necessarily tuned to terroir. The French Vigne Vin 41, 9-18. make the distinction between wines that are Grasso, A. (2018). Sograp, Sandeman, Oporto, notably marked by human intervention vs. Portugal.Verbal communication. Goode J. and Harrop S. (2011). Authentic wine: wines whose character is mainly a reflection Toward natural and sustainable winemaking. of place. University of California Press. Study Tour to Greece However, it would appear that neither the Grahm R. (2018). In: Wine and Place, A terroir r. Bruce Zoecklein, Professor marketplace nor the popularizers make the reader. Patterson, T. and Buechsenstein, J., University Emeritus, Virginia Tech, and distinction. For example, many wine writers of California Press. D Greenspan M. (2019). Sometime the smaller drink Professor Pascal Durand, University evaluate Bordeaux wines not as Bordeaux, of Burgundy, will lead a new technical but as red wines (Goode and Harrop 2011), is better. Wine Business Monthly. Jan. Heymann H., Hopfer H., and Bershaw, D. (2014). study tour to Greece Dec. 7-15, 2019. thus, blurring or at least not emphasizing the An exploration of the perception of minerality in The tour will include stops in difference between vins d’effort and vins de white wines by projective mapping and descriptive Peloponnese, Crete and . For terroir. analysis. Journal of Sensory Studies 29, no. 1. more information, contact Bruce at Perhaps one of the requirements for Jackson, D.I., and P.B. Lombard (1993). [email protected]. evaluating NTU systems such as that used in Environmental and management practices affecting

13 INDUSTRY NEWS Wrapping Up This Va. Assembly Session

By James S. Turpin were withdrawn and will be included in the new payroll tax to fund the Emergency and VWA Legislative Collective ongoing ABC permit/license study. Medical Leave Act. SB 1064 (Sen. William M. Stanley, Jr.) SB 1535 (Sen. Scott A. Surovell) – Outdoor he 2019 Session of the Virginia – Expanded privileges of farm wineries Advertising, Building Code. As introduced, General Assembly adjourned Feb. and limited breweries. The bill would have the bill would have increased regulation of 24 and will reconvene April 3 for allowed farm wineries to sell beer from certain outdoor advertising while applying the Veto Session to consider actions craft breweries and vice versa. As it was the building code. It was defeated in the Ttaken by the Governor. Over the course of a proposed, it could have negatively impacted House General Laws Subcommittee. six-week session, the legislature considered our agricultural status. It was defeated in SB 1539 (Surovell) – Child Support nearly 3,000 pieces of legislation. Over half Committee. Enforcement for Contractors. The bill would of those were adopted. The remainder were have required businesses to collect child killed along the way. Unless otherwise noted GENERAL AGRICULTURE support from independent contractors. It has in the summary below, everything passed Passed: None been referred back to the House Committee by the legislature and signed into law by the on Courts for Justice, thereby killing it for the Governor has a July 1 effective date. Failed year. In addition to ABC and wine issues, HB 2495 (Del. Kathy KL Tran)/HB 2580 this year the VWA Legislative Collective (Del. Kaye Kory) – Both proposals would WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? expanded our tracking and advocacy to have expanded state (VDACS) authority This is an important election year in include General Agriculture and General over certain . Both were defeated in Virginia. While there are no statewide offices Business. committee. on the ballot (that won’t happen until 2021), Both in terms of what passed and what was all 140 members of the General Assembly defeated, this was a positive one for the wine GENERAL BUSINESS will be up for election. With both chambers industry. Passed being essentially evenly divided, control of The following is a summary of the key Two measures permitting trade associations both the House of Delegates and the State measures in each category that both passed to offer health-care plans were considered Senate will be up for grabs. and failed, with the name of the principal during this year’s legislative session. The Currently, the House has 51 Republicans sponsor in parentheses. first, HB 1661 (Del. Christopher T. Head), and 49 Democrats. Democrats have not been would have allowed certain agricultural in the majority since the 1990s. Due to a recent ABC/WINE associations to offer health-care plans to court decision mandating redistricting in the Passed members. This would have applied to larger eastern part of the state, several Republicans HB 1770 (Del. Barry D. Knight) – organizations such as the Farm Bureau. The will be forced to run in new districts. Distillery Commissions/ABC Hours. This bill Head bill passed in the House of Delegates, After picking up 17 seats in 2017, increases the commission paid to distillers but was superseded by a broader measure, SB Democrats are faced with the challenge of to 20 percent. It also increases the hours for 1689 (Sen. Siobhan Dunnavent) that would holding their gains in the face of what is certain ABC stores to include openings on cover more trade associations. The Senate bill likely to be a reduced turnout. Sunday at10 a.m. passed both chambers and was on its way to With control of the General Assembly HB 1960 (Del. David J. Toscano) – Can the Governor’s desk. A similar measure was in play, the stakes will be high. Combined, Size. The bill regulates the size of cans for vetoed last year. The Virginia NFIB has taken House Republicans and Democrats have low alcohol spirits. the lead on this issue. raised $10 million for this election cycle. HB 2073 (Del. John J. Bell) – Happy SB 1724 (Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr.) In the Senate, Republicans hold a 21- Hour Advertising. The measure will change – Employment Records. The bill requires to -19 majority. While only two Senators and clarify ABC happy-hour advertising employers to provide employment records — both Republicans — have announced requirement. to current and former employees within 30 their retirement, control of the chamber will HB 2367 (Knight) – ABC Delivery Rules. days after receiving a written request. A fee likely come down to the outcome of a small The bill clarifies ABC rules for delivery of is allowed. number of districts. In the General Assembly, small quantities of alcohol. four delegates — one Democrat and three Failed Republicans — are retiring, and three others Failed SB 1200 (Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance), five — one Democrat and two Republicans — are HB 2364 (Knight) – Agritourism others – Minimum Wage. Each of these seeking other offices. Weddings. The initial proposal was to let proposals would have increased the minimum Don’t forget, in most counties, members a handful of agricultural properties host wage to $15 over various periods of time. of the Board of Supervisors as well weddings. It included limitations on both the SB 2170 (Sen. Adam B. Ebbin)/HB 1669 as Constitutional officers (Treasurer, number of events and attendance. Application (Del. Betsy B. Carr) – Paper/Plastic Bag Tax. Commissioner of Revenue) will be on the of building codes also became an issue. The bills would have established a 5-cent tax ballot. Do not underestimate the impact these HB 2522 (Del. Hyland F. Fowler) and on all plastic and paper bags used in a retail offices can have on your business. SB 1245 (Sen. Bryce E. Reeves) – Special setting. What can you do? First, get involved. Know ABC Permit. These identical bills would HB 2120 (Del. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy) the issues facing the industry. Then reach out have created a new class of license for the – Payroll Tax for Family and Medical to your legislator about those issues. Finally, sale of all types of alcoholic beverages. Both Leave. The measure would have created a vote on Nov. 5.

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