FPS GRAPE PROGRAM NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2004 2004-05 New Releases and Selection Advances FOUNDATION PLANT SERVICES WILL BE OFFERING dormant hardwood cuttings for over 600 grape fruiting selec- tions (wine, table, raisin, juice and canning) and almost 100 grape rootstock selections for the 2004-05 dormant season. The updated list of registered selec- tions and ordering information are available from the FPS offi ce or may be accessed on the Web at: http://fps. ucdavis.edu. Dormant cuttings in short supply will be allocated among those whose orders are confi rmed by November 15, 2004. Our customer service team looks forward to providing you with the information and assistance needed to obtain plant At this writing, 39 grape selections were advanced materials and services from FPS. From left to right are: from Provisional to Registered California Founda- administrative assistant/receptionist Sue Kinser, business tion Stock status in the fall of 2004. Selections newly offi ce/distribution manager Cheryl Covert, and order advanced to Registered status in 2004 are underlined processor Ginnie Dixon. You can reach them by phone at in the list of Registered Grape Selections for the 2004-05 (530) 752-3590 or by email at [email protected]. Dormant Season. INSIDE: Ten new selections listed below were planted in the foundation block for the fi rst time in 2004, and can 2 Upcoming Meetings now be ordered as Provisional status mist-propagated 3 Triplett blanc plants. Plants will be propagated after orders are 4 Sweet Scarlet and Thomcord—New from USDA received and supplied in about six to nine months. Disease testing for these selections was completed in 5 New York Varieties Added to FPS Collection spring 2004. After the vines in the foundation vineyard 6 Updating Variety Names in the Foundation Block set fruit (in about 2 years), visual inspections will be conducted to check for variety correctness. Vines that 7 Ed Stover Selected as NCGR Curator are professionally identifi ed will be advanced to Cali- 8 Nematode-Resistant Rootstock Selections fornia Foundation Stock status. All new Provisional status selections available from FPS are shown on the 10 The Origin of the Durell Syrah New Materials Available from FPS in the 2004-2005 12 The Spanish National Grape Collection Season list. This information is also available from the 13 For Your Information… FPS offi ce and on our Web site. 14 Vine Mealybug Update Alvarinho FPS 01 was imported in 2000 from the Agro Ideia Nursery in Portugal. This selection was 16 Grape Crown Gall Biology and Control Strategies made in the Porto Franco Vineyard which supplies 19 Vine Selection and Clones grapes to the Cortegana Winery. Alvarinho is a white wine variety with thick skin that is reported to help 22 In Memory continued on back page Foundation Plant Services FPS Grape Program Newsletter October 2004 Upcoming Meetings 2004 FPS Annual Meeting will be held October 27, 2004 at the Buehler Alumni Center, UC Davis. For reservations or information, contact the FPS office by phone: (530) 752-3590 or email: [email protected] NAPPO Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 18–22, 2004 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Contact Mrs. Monique DeRepentigny, NAPPO 2004 Coordinator, at [email protected] 2005 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium to be held January 25–27, 2005 at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California. Information is available at http://www.unifiedsymposium.org Variety Focus: Pinot Noir University Extension class April 7, 2005 in Freeborn Hall, UC Davis. Viticul- tural aspects, origins, clonal selection and performance, terroir. Guest speakers and wine tasting. Information will be available at http://universityextension.ucdavis.edu 56th Annual Meeting of the American Soci- ety for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) to be held June 20–24, 2005 at the Washington State Con- vention & Trade Center, Seattle, Washington. Details are available at: http://asev.org FPS Grape Program Manager Susan Nelson-Kluk (left) International Cool Climate Symposium on and ARS horticulturist David Ramming compare notes Viticulture and Oenology to be held February and examine some of his new grape breeding selections currently undergoing testing at FPS. ‘Sweet Scarlet’ and 6–10, 2006 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The theme ‘Thomcord’ [not shown], two of his seedless table grape for ICCS 2006 is “Winegrowing for the Future.” For varieties recently released by the USDA-ARS, are described further information, visit the Web site at on page 4. http://www.iccs2006.org.nz FPS Grape Program Newsletter is published by Foundation Plant Services, a department in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Foundation Plant Services Director: Dr. Deborah Golino University of California FPS Plant Pathologist: Dr. Adib Rowhani One Shields Avenue Editor: Susan Nelson-Kluk Davis, California 95616-8600 U.S.A FPS Grape Program Manager Phone: (530) 752-3590 Fax: (530) 752-2132 Editorial Assistance: Cheryl Covert Email: [email protected] Newsletter Design and Photography: Bev Ferguson Web: http://fps.ucdavis.edu – 2 – Foundation Plant Services FPS Grape Program Newsletter October 2004 Triplett blanc by Peter Christensen, Viticulture Specialist, Emeritus, UC Davis ‘TRIPLETT BLANC’ WILL BE THE FIRST PUBLIC RELEASE of wine Colombard is well known for its adaptability to warmer varieties bred and developed by Mr. Fay Triplett. Mr. regions, producing good yields of well-balanced fruit Triplett was a wine grape grower from Ceres, Califor- composition due to its high acidity. It has excellent ver- nia who was active in grapevine breeding for about 50 satility for the production of varietal and generic wines years until his death in 2000 at age 96. His breeding and for concentrate, brandy and blending wine. program involved crosses of little known as well as Vine and fruit characteristics of both Vernaccia Sarda major wine varieties from throughout the world, and and Colombard can be readily noted in ‘Triplett blanc.’ varieties from other breeding programs. Through the The vine is very vigorous, with strong, upright shoots. years, Mr. Triplett cooperated with UC Davis Depart- The canopy is not dense, as it is not prone to strong ment of Viticulture and Enology, UC Cooperative Ex- lateral shoot development. Clusters are large (average 1 tension -- Stanislaus County, Allied Grape Growers and lb.), long-conical, shouldered and well-filled. Berries are E&J Gallo Winery yellow-green with grayish bloom, medium size (average for input on vine 2.3 g) and round. Vine yield over 7 years averaged 21.5 performance and tons per acre, which included 3rd and 4th leaf. At full wine evaluation of production, 5th to 9th leaf, the yield averaged 26.8 tons his more promising per acre. Vineyard design was 8'x12' vine and row spac- seedling selections. ing, bilateral cordon training at 54" with a single foliar He kept meticu- catch wire and standard spur pruning. lous breeding and vine performance Harvest date averaged September 25 with a fruit compo- records. sition of 20.3o Brix, 0.87 g/100ml titratable acidity and Photo courtesy of Peter Christensen pH 3.42. The number of clusters showing some decay In the mid-1980s it was agreed to transfer 40 of the averaged 6 out of 94 total per vine. This is a measure of more promising selections to the UC Kearney Agri- those clusters with 4 or more adjoining berries showing cultural Research and Extension Center. This would decay. Typically, it indicates clusters with some partial provide an opportunity to compare and evaluate them decay rather than complete decay. Susceptibility to in expanded plots in a research setting. It would also bunch rot appears to decline as the vines become more enable access for industry observation. The American mature. Clusters showing decay only averaged two per Vineyard Foundation generously contributed some vine during the last four years of data collection. financial support for the Kearney trials; Mr. Triplett continued to provide his input during visits to the trial The release of ‘Triplett blanc’ was prompted by its block. Ultimately, it was Mr. Triplett’s wish to share unusually high productivity with good viticultural any released selections with the wine industry. ‘Triplett characteristics and fruit composition. Winery interest in blanc’ is being released as a public variety by Founda- the variety has focused on a white wine blending base tion Plant Services, where it has undergone indexing and concentrate. Its ultimate fit into winery use will be for freedom from virus. determined with time. ‘Triplett blanc’ is a cross between Colombard and There are at least 10 more white- and black-fruited Vernaccia Sarda. Vernaccia Sarda was evaluated by A. Triplett varieties that are advancing to winemaking J. Winkler and M. A. Amerine in the 1930s and 1940s. status and final evaluation for possible release. Their They described the variety as a vigorous grower and differing characteristics include earlier ripening, muscat heavy producer with large, long-conical, shouldered, flavor, very high titratable acidity for a warm climate, well-filled to compact clusters, maturing in late mid- very low bunch rot potential, and high color and season. It produced neutral white dry wines of mildly phenolic content. If released, they will also become distinct, fruity and full-bodied character in region IV. public varieties. It was considered to be less well adapted to region V, We wish to thank Fay Triplett, his wife Maxine, and their family although some fair table wines were produced due to for their dedication and support that enabled this generous its moderately well balanced fruit composition. contribution to the grape grower community and wine industry. – 3 – Foundation Plant Services FPS Grape Program Newsletter October 2004 Sweet Scarlet and Thomcord — Two New Table Grape Varieties Released from ARS TWO NEW TABLE GRAPE VARIETIES have recently been released by the U.S.