GRAPE PRESS Spring 2019 The Quarterly Newsletter of the VIRGINIA VINEYARDS ASSOCIATION Vol. 35 No. 1 WINTER TECHNICAL 2019 Breaking Down the Variables Of Terroir 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 wine that expresses the inherent The VVA added something new this year: A two-day conservative pruning session led by dormant vine and distinguishing characteristic of pruning consultant Marco Tessari. The session, held in advance of the regular annual meeting, took place a particular vineyard’s site and the at King Family Vineyards in Crozet in February. For more meeting photos, see Page 5. uniqueness of the vintage. 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 grapes 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 shoots. 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 harvest. 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. [email protected] 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 brix. 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. 2 SUPERIOR WIND MACHINE SERVICE, INC. 6919 Kraft Avenue Caledonia, MI 49316 Phone: 616-971-8177 - Fax: 616-971-8178 Sales: Lee Deleeuw 616-893-4507 Service: Brad Deleeuw 616-299-3992 ® Orchard-Rite Wind MachinesFrost & Offer Protection Against provide Cooling & Drying stationary & Portable Models - Multiple optional accessories - . P o w e r f e . P u r e u l . P e r f o r m a n c 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 veraison. 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.