Wine-Grower-News #138 August 13, 2010
Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Wine
Information in this issue includes:
Computer Crashed – Operator Survives! Remember to use the Iowa Wine Growers Assn’s “FREE” Grape Exchange Online Kirkwood Offers Wine Facility Management Courses Pre-harvest Petiole Testing Latest Gallup Poll on American Drinking Habits Latest CPR Procedure – a video worth watching Growing Students and Harvesting Knowledge (MO Center for Wine, Food and Hospitality) 8-17, Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association Grape Harvest Workshop 9-2, Hands-on Berry & Wine Sensory Analysis Seminar 9-3, Hands-on Berry Sensory Analysis Seminar, Springfield, IL Comments from Readers Show n Tell Notable Quotables Articles of Interest Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff Calendar of Events U.S. % of Normal Rainfall Map
Computer Crashed – Operator Survives!
You are receiving this newsletter over one week late due to the death of my computer hard drive on Thursday (8-5-10). Luckily, the attempts of our great crew of ISU Extension computer geeks on campus proved successful. They were able to save my computer files and replace the hard drive.
Thank You Lord!!
I am now back Online! Dell Computer Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).
I will be working day and night at the Iowa State Fair from August 11th through August 22nd . I will not have much extra time to return e-mails and phone
messages or work on this newsletter. Expect delays. Mike White 1 Remember to use the Iowa Wine Growers Assn’s “FREE” Grape Exchange Online
I see that many buyers and sellers have already posted their “Grapes For Sale ” or “Grapes Wanted” on the Iowa Wine Growers Association’s website. There is no charge to post on the Grape Exchange. To post you only need to register as a user first (if you haven't already). Once you have confirmed your registration and log in you will see the instructions on how to Post FREE Ads in the User Menu
Kirkwood Offers Wine Facility Management Courses
For those interested in entering the growing vineyard and winery markets in Iowa, Kirkwood Community College will offer a six-part Winemaking & Winery Facility Management course series. In the next year Kirkwood Continuing Education will hold a six-course series, with a certificate awarded upon completion.
The courses begin with “Winemaking 101,” then continue with classes on fermentation and post- fermentation management; winery facilities, marketing and regulation, then a finale course on wines from pre-bottling to sales to the consumer.
Each course is taught in four evening classes, with a mixture of classroom and working winery instruction at Kirkwood’s new teaching winery in Washington Hall on the Cedar Rapids campus. Much of the students’ time will be spent in direct winery experience under close guidance of instructor Lucas McIntire, a professional winemaker with nearly a decade of contracted wine production at several eastern Iowa commercial wineries. During his career McIntire has produced thousands of gallons of wine in many varieties for sale to the public.
Ideally, students will complete all six courses to earn the Winemaking & Winery Facility Management Certificate. Class tuition is $49 for each of the classes. Students who enroll for the six- course series will receive a discount. For flexibility of student schedules and needs, each class may also be taken separately with unique attention given to each student’s background and interests. All courses are scheduled for completion in early 2011.
More information on the Winemaking & Wine Facility Management courses is available by calling Kirkwood Viticulturist Tom Moore at (319) 398-5899, Ext. 4010; or Instructor Lucas McIntire, (563) 599-9608.
Pre-harvest Petiole Testing
Petiole tests are the primary tool used to determine fertility needs once the vineyard is established. Petioles (stem portion of the leaf) is the tissue recommended for determining the nutritional needs of grape vines. Obtaining a representative sample is critical. Optimum nutrient ranges are based on petioles sampled at specific times during the season. The following guidelines can be used for proper sampling and handling procedures:
1. Full bloom and veraison (approx. early August in Iowa) are the two times of the season to sample grapes. The full bloom sample is primarily used for nitrogen and boron. The
2 veraison sample is more reliable for all the other nutrients. 2. At least 25-50 vines should be selected for a sample collection. Vines not typical of the vineyard should be avoided. 3. Vines should be of the same age, cultivar, and rootstock growing on similar soil/site conditions. 4. For full bloom sampling, take the petioles from leaves opposite the bottom flower cluster. For samples taken at veraison, take the petioles from the most recently developed matured leaf. 5. Collect 75-100 petioles. Short petioled varieties like Marechal Foch will need 150 to 200 petioles collected. Do not pick more than one petiole from any one shoot and do not sample any petioles connected to heavily diseased, insect or mechanical damaged leaves. 6. Dusty or dirty petioles should be rinsed with distilled water and patted dry with a paper towel. Place the collected samples in a paper bag and send into a testing laboratory. Make sure to record all the necessary information required by the testing laboratory. 7. Make sure to contact the testing laboratory prior to sending in the petiole test. You want to do it right the first time!
Many factors can affect the nutrient composition of plant tissue. Soil moisture, soil fertility, diseases, insects, crop load, weather, and cultural practices can directly affect petiole tests. When properly used, petiole testing will provide the most reliable method to determine fertilizer needs for established vineyards. Comparing petiole tests from year-to-year will show a more reliable trend over time. Charges will vary between laboratories, but most fees will range between $25 - $35 for a complete petiole analysis.
Additional Resources: (Above) Petiole identification – UC Davis
1. Midwest Small Fruit Pest Mgt. Handbook: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b861/index.html 2. ISU Petiole Sampling Guidelines with a list of plant analysis labs: http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/info/pdf/leafsampling.pdf 3. Iowa Dept. of Ag list of soil test labs certified to do business in Iowa. Many of them will to petiole tests: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/feedAndFertilizer/certifiedSoilTesting.asp 4. Midwest Grape Production Guide, p. 139 Plant Analysis, Ohio State Univ..: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b919/index.html
Latest Gallup Poll on American Drinking Habits
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted July 8-11, 2010, with a random sample of 1,020 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.
Here are some highlights of this 2010 annual poll:
1. 67% of adult Americans consume alcohol. This is the highest since 1985. 2. 33% of adult Americans totally abstain from alcohol consumption. 3. The highest adult American alcohol consumption rate was 71% from 1976 to 78. 4. The lowest adult American alcohol consumption rate was in 55% in 1958.
3 5. Those who seldom attend or do not attend church are significantly more likely to drink alcohol. 6. Catholics and non-Christians are more likely to drink alcohol than Protestants. 7. Higher income correlates with higher alcohol consumption: 46% of adults making less than $20,000/year drink alcohol, while 81% of those making more than $75,000/year drink alcohol. 8. 72% of 18-54 year olds drink alcohol versus 59% for those over 55 years of age. 9. Of adult drinkers 41% prefer beer, 32% prefer wine and 21% prefer liquor. 10. Drinkers 55 and older clearly choose wine as their preferred beverage. 11. Overall, 54% of men prefer beer over wine (17%) and liquor (22%). 12. Overall, 48% of women prefer wine over beer (27%) and liquor (21%). 13. Beer remains the most popular in the Midwest.
Full details of this Gallup Poll can be found here: http://www.gallup.com/poll/141656/Drinking-Rate-Edges-Slightly-Year-High.aspx
Latest CPR Procedure – a video worth watching
Here is a 5:59 minute video worth watching. There has been a big change in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation CPR procedures. Much simpler than the old technique! Check it out by viewing this 5:59 minute video by the University of Arizona College of Medicine: http://tinyurl.com/2fx8r59
Suggest sharing it with others.
Growing Students and Harvesting Knowledge (MO Center for Wine, Food and Hospitality) --- Taken from Inside Missouri Wine, August 2010 newsletter
Efforts are underway to create the University of Missouri Center for Wine, Food and Hospitality, a 51,000 square foot facility to house the wine, food and hospitality programs in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri Columbia campus. When completed, the Center will be the only place in the nation that offers the academic and research disciplines of food science, hospitality management, viticulture and enology as an integrated program under one roof. The Missouri Wine & Grape Board has partnered with CAFNR and the University of Missouri to develop the Center.
The proposed facility will be made up of three buildings:
Teaching and Research Teaching Winery Food and Wine Education
The Teaching and Research building (~20,000 square feet) will house faculty and staff offices, a training room, and research labs for viticulture, enology, sensory analysis and microbiology. The (~9,000 square feet) Teaching winery will be a hands-on facility for fruit processing, fermentation, wine making, bottling and storage. The Food and Wine Education building (~22,000 square feet) will include a sensory and food educational theater, banquet dining facility, conference room, kitchen, and regional food product showcase and retail area. The building will be constructed on the east end of campus at Stadium Boulevard and Ashland Gravel Road.
4 The capital campaign has started and Missouri wine industry members are encouraged to donate to the effort. For more information on the University of Missouri Center for Wine, Food and Hospitality contact CAFNR at 573-882-9003 or email [email protected].
8-17, Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association Grape Harvest Workshop
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Where: ISU Webster County Extension Office, 217 South 25th St., Ste. C12 in Fort Dodge, IA. (located on the south side of the Crossroads Shopping Center on the east side of Fort Dodge)
Agenda Topics: Grape harvesting and winery expectations as seen by a local winery. As always, we will conclude the workshop with a sampling of Iowa Wines. Bring along a favorite homemade or commercial Iowa wine if you would like.
Contact: Norm Lewman, Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association: [email protected]
9-2, Hands-on Berry & Wine Sensory Analysis Seminar
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, September 2, 2010 Who: Dr. Gianna Trioli of Vinidea, Italy - Berry Sensory Analysis Dr. Marco LiCalzi, ICCVE – Wine Sensory Analysis Where: Hampton Inn & Suites, Columbia, MO Sponsored by: Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture & Enology (ICCVE), University of Missouri Cost: $145 each, $50 discount for members of the Missouri Grape Growers Association (MGGA) Full Details: http://iccve.missouri.edu/events/
9-3, Hands-on Berry Sensory Analysis Seminar, Springfield, IL
When: Friday, September 3, 2010 Who: Dr. Gianna Trioli of Vinidea, Italy Where: University of IL Extension Office, State Fair Grounds, Springfield, IL Sponsored by: Red Lake Community College & VESTA Cost: $145 each or $125 for members of the Illinois Grape Growers & Vintner Association (IGGVA) and VESTA Students. Class size is limited, pre-registration is required. Event Flyer: http://www.vesta-usa.org/PDF%20Documents/BSA%20flyer.jpg Contact: Rachel Cristaudo, 618-437-5321 Ext. 1724 or [email protected]
Comments from Readers
“Mike -
I'd strongly encourage Iowa vineyard and winery owners to participate by volunteering for the Iowa State Fair "Wine Experience." I visited Grandfather's Barn several times during last year's Fair, and 5 was amazed at the number of people who came to this exhibit. Tens of thousands of Fairgoers got to this display, and I can't help but believe that they went away feeling good about the Iowa wine industry and about Iowa wines! This is a great way to promote a new and important part of Iowa agriculture. We on the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors are proud of what's been done here, and are pleased with the partnership we've developed with the Iowa wine industry. It's a great way to promote the industry!!”
--- Jerry Parkin, Board of Directors South Central District, Earlham, Iowa
Show n Tell
On Friday, 8-6-10 I stopped by Bob and Miriam Stevenson’s vineyard located on the southwest corner of Ames, IA (they actually have a Boone, IA address – go figure?). Bob started planting grapes in 2006 and sells most of them to Prairie Moon Winery located on the northwest corner of Ames. Bob is a 1966 graduate of the Iowa State University Industrial Arts program. Frontenac, St. Pepin and LaCrosse at the primary winegrape cultivars in the vineyard. Here are some of the pictures from my visit:
(Above) Bob had recently sprayed Rely 280 postemergent herbicide for weed control under the wire. Bob uses black (Above) Homemade electric plastic wire spools he purchases from powered netting winder-upper . McMasters Carr to wrap his extruded bird netting.
(Right) Bob and Sam his Springer
Spaniel he rescued from the Humane Society. Bob purchased this 1948 Allis Chalmers-G 10 hp tractor two years ago. He uses it to cultivate his sweet corn and his grapes. The plastic container mounted on the side is used to side dress liquid nitrogen.
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(Above) 10,000 foot roll of extruded plastic bird netting .
(Left) Sign used to warn neighbors to keep herbicides away from Bob’s grapes. (Above) St. Pepin already
netted to keep the birds off.
(Right) Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari (L) reports on curren t activities to the Advisory Committee of the Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute. Bob and Sharman Wersen, owners of
Tassel Ridge Winery at Leighton, IA hosted this group meeting at their Interpower Corporation building located on the southeast corner of Ames, IA.
The Iowa State Fair started Thursday, August 12th and will run through Sunday, August 22, 2010. Last year’s “ Wine Experience” will again be operating at Grandfather’s Barn on top of the hill. New for this year will be the kids “Grape-Get-Away” tent located just north of Grandfather’s barn. There will be a kids grape stomp at 11 a.m. each day along with an any-age grape stomp at 2 p.m. and
7 6 p.m. “Free” live music will be playing every night at 7 p.m. Here are some pictures from the first two days:
(Above) Cindy Brunner of Newton (R) and Craig Hertel of ISU Extension
volunteered to serve wine at the Wine Experience. The public can purchase 1 (Above) Tim Love of Love’s Wildlife oz. tastings of “State Fair Red” or “State Control located at Knoxville IA set up a Fair White” and purchase by the bottle. barn owl nesting box in the demonstration These two private label sweet wines vineyard at Grandfather’s barn. Barn owls were produced by Jasper Winery provide a natural method of rodent control located in Des Moines, IA. in the vineyard. Tim builds and sells these nesting boxes. He also sells the building plans for $5.
(Right) A kids grape stomp is held at 11 a.m. each day. (Above) Kids can press grapes in the Grape – Get – Away tent.
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(Above) Larry Points of Shueyville, IA (Above) Barb Rasko, editor of (front) and Steve Larson of Livermore, IA MakeMineWine magazine (Left) is (back) serve wine in Grandfather’s barn. again the Superintendent of the “Wine Experience” this year. Jennie Hansen from our ISU Wine Lab (Right) will also be helping out several days at the Fair.
Notable Quotables
“In the last four years, a single website, the search engine wine-searcher.com, has done more to transform that commercial landscape than any other, affecting every facet of the way the wine business is conducted”….. For better or worse, it has leveled the playing field on getting, buying, pricing and selling wine.”
From: Wine-searcher.com levels the wine industry playing field, 7-12-10 – Los Angeles Times
"There is a lot of good American wine to be had, and a lot of opportunity to visit the wineries and enjoy them," he said. "Per-capita consumption of wine by Americans will continue to rise, but if these small wineries are to continue to thrive, direct shipping is crucial."
--- Bill Nelson, President of WineAmerica, from: Wine, More Thoughts from Bill Nelson, 8-12-10, Washington Post
Videos of Interest
1. Berry sampling after veraison, 7-20-09 - Winemakers’ Journal, 5:23min. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qHQG4I20tA&feature=related
Articles of Interest
1. Bill could threaten wineries and microbreweries, 8-10-10 – KGO-TV San Francisco: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=7603738
9 2. Les Bourgeois Winery Builds New Facility, 8-9-10 – Missourian: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/08/09/les-bourgeois-winery-builds-new-facility/
Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff
1. History Timeline of the Western Iowa Grape & Wine Industry in Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska: http://www.westerniowagrapegrowers.org/html/grape___wine_history.html
Calendar of Events:
Aug. 12-22, Make sure to visit the Wine Experience and Wine & Cheese Garden at the Iowa State Fair: http://www.iowastatefair.com/
Aug. 14, Amateur Wine Making 201, hosted by Gary & Diane Forristall, 35252 Pioneer Trail; Macedonia, Iowa. http://www.westerniowagrapegrowers.org
Aug. 14, Beginnings & Basics of Commercial Winemaking Workshop at Forsee Vineyards & Winery, 18165 North 4th Ave. Coffeen, IL, Contact [email protected]
Aug. 17, 7 p.m. Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association Grape Harvest Workshop, ISU Webster County Extension Office . Contact: [email protected]
Aug. 21, 5th Annual North Dakota Grape Growers Association Grape Harvest Festival, Red Trail Vineyard at Buffalo, ND. Contact Liane Stout, event coordinator at 701-633-5000.
Sept. 2, Hands-on Berry & Wine Sensory Analysis Seminar, Hampton Inn & Suites. Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture & Enology (ICCVE), Details: http://iccve.missouri.edu/events/
Sept. 3, Hands-on Berry Sensory Analysis Seminar, Springfield, IL, Red Lake Community College & VESTA Event Flyer: http://www.vesta-usa.org/PDF%20Documents/BSA%20flyer.jpg
Nov. 20, University of Nebraska fall workshop, Lincoln, NE. Peter Hemstad, grape breeder from the University of MN will be the speaker. Details later: http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture/
Post & View Classified Ads here: http://iowawinegrowers.org
Past issues archived as html and/or pdf here:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Wine/Resources/winegrowernews.htm
10 Total Circulation of 1,250+ recipients in AZ, CA, CO, FL, OH, IA, IN, IL, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, NY, OR, PA, SD, VA, VT, WA, WA DC, WI, Australia, Canada, Israel & Norway
Michael L. White, ISU Extension Viticulture Specialist 909 East 2nd St. Suite E, Indianola, IA 50125-2892 ph: 515-961-6237, fax: 6017 or [email protected]
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U.S. National Weather Service percent of normal rainfall as of 8-15-10: http://water.weather.gov/precip/
… and justice for all - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.
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