Viticulture and Enology Extension News Washington State University FALL 2015 CONTENTS NOTE FROM THE EDITOR In a normal year, this issue of VEEN would be written prior to the start of the harvest season. In a normal year, viticulturists and winemakers alike would have had the month of August to prepare for the incoming vintage. In a normal year, we would have a month before irrigation VITICULTURE water would be turned off. But, this year has been anything but normal. The early start (March AgWeatherNet .................... Page 2 budbreak!!??) was matched with equally early flowering and fruit ripening. We were all shocked by 24 brix Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of August, and varieties that are normally quite dis- Winter Water ...................... Page 3 parate in harvest timing are practically falling on top of each other. The light at the end of the tunnel is that this harvest season will likely end early, providing us with a prolonged “catch-up” Crop Coefficients ................ Page 4 period before next spring. Concord Chlorosis .............. Page 6 Hopefully, this prolonged period also comes with average temperatures and above average pre- cipitation. It will be a welcomed relief to look west and see snow on Mount Adams once again. Certificate Program ............ Page 8 Here’s to an efficient harvest, and a snowy winter! Michelle M. Moyer Assistant Professor Viticulture Extension Specialist ENOLOGY WSU-IAREC Welcome Dr. Collins! ............. Page 7 Barrel Craftsmanship .......... Page 9 Acid Additions ................... Page 11 OTHER NEWS FIND US ON THE WEB: www.wine.wsu.edu/research-extension Publications ................... Page 14 Information when you need it. That is the power of the internet! Visit the WSU Calendar of Events ......... Page 14 Viticulture and Enology Research and Extension website for valuable information regarding research programs at WSU, timely news releases on topics that are important to your business, as well as information regarding upcoming workshops EDITOR and meetings. Michelle M. Moyer, PhD It is also a valuable site for downloading our most recent Extension publications, in addition to archived articles and newsletters you can print on demand. Find WSU Extension programs and employment quick links to AgWeatherNet, the Viticulture and Enology Degree and Certificate are available to all without discrimination. programs, as well as to other Viticulture and Enology related resources. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported Find us on Facebook through your local WSU Extension office. Go to: www.facebook.com/WSU.Vit.Enol.Ext and “Like” the page! 1 AgWeatherNet Update By Nic Loyd and Gerrit Hoogenboom, AgWeatherNet, WSU-IAREC The summer of 2015 quickly January to 2015 Monthly Temperature Anomalies relieved 2014 of its title as warmest August, days that Prosser on record in central Washington. were warmer 10 Prosser was 3.7 degrees above than normal 9 normal for the season (June to by 5+ degrees Tmax August), while Tri-Cities had an outnumbered 8 Tmin Tavg F) average summer high of 93.3°F. days that were o 7 June was warmer than August for 5 degrees cooler only the second time and was the than normal by 6 warmest month (relative to normal) more than 10:1. 5 on record. 4 A major pattern The Tri-Cities recorded 22 days change at the 3 above 100°F, including a scorching end of August 2 Temperature Anomaly ( TemperatureAnomaly 113°F on 28 Jun. On 9 Jul., Whitcomb served as a timely 1 Island ended a 14-day stretch with and welcome highs above 100°F. Numerous breath of fresh 0 locations across central Washington air, with cool -1 recorded soil temperatures (at 8”) and unsettled January February March April May June July August in the 90 to 95°F range in early to weather Month mid-July due to the long duration persisting of excessive heat. These abnormally well into early Figure 1 – The above-average temperature anomaly seen this sum- high soil temperatures represented September. The mer has been around for most of the year. a reserve of subsurface heat. regime shift began with an abnormally strong likelihood (95%+) of El Niño As of 8 Sept., 2015 accumulated summer storm passage on 29 Aug., persisting through next winter. Growing Degree Day (GDD) value which delivered wind gusts of for Prosser (starting 1 Apr.; base over 30 mph and blowing dust to If there is a silver lining in our 50°F) was 2670 units, which is the region. Although central areas present bleak situation, it is that well above the 2008-2015 average experienced little rainfall, the higher strong El Niño events are generally of 2272 units. In a broader sense, humidity and air mass exchange followed by a shift toward neutral this growing season has been a helped to improve the air quality or even La Niña conditions for the continuation of the prolonged and clear the smoke. The high at following winter. Even if 2015/2016 and nearly unprecedented warm the Tri-Cities on 6 Sept. was 70°F, becomes another lost winter, we pattern that began more than a which was their coolest high since can hope for better snow returns year ago (Fig. 1). 13 May. Meanwhile, Walla Walla’s in 2016/2017, since history will be 5 September rainfall of 0.84 inches on our side. Statistically speaking, At the same time, rain has been was also the largest daily rain value 2015 is very likely rock bottom in limited, even by summer standards. since 13 May. terms of persistent heat and lack of Prior to 6 Sept., the last rainfall at snow, which means that conditions the WSU-Tri-Cities weather station Looking ahead to the cold season, can only improve as we approach had been 25 May. Periods of we are faced with grim prospects. the latter part of this decade. blowing dust added insult to injury, Rarely have all available climate including a wind event on 14 Aug. signals pointed so consistently In other words, we can hope with which closed Interstate 90 near in one direction as they do this some justification that the climate Vantage. year. Unfortunately, that direction pendulum will start to swing back is toward another warm and low in our favor later in 2016. In late July, Prosser experienced a snowpack winter. Many climate summer 2015 rarity: a cool day. indicators, including various Further details about Washington’s Temperatures on 26 Jul. were nearly dynamic and statistical models, weather and climate are available 10 degrees cooler than average, continue to suggest enhanced odds at the AgWeatherNet website, with a high of 77°F. While that may of warmer and somewhat drier than weather.wsu.edu. Please send not seem like a major departure normal conditions through mid- questions or suggestions to Nic from normal, at that time it was 2016. Recent observations indicate Loyd, [email protected], the coolest day relative to normal a strong and strengthening El Niño, or Gerrit Hoogenboom, gerrit. in nearly 7 months. In fact, from and forecasts suggest a significant [email protected]. 2 Water Supply Resources and Reports By Michelle Moyer, WSU-IAREC Will it be a white winter for great resource for climate data, the State Climatologist, who Washington? While the long-range forecasts and models. You collects information on snow forecast suggests below normal can find short to long-range depth, stream flow, and cloud precipitation and above normal forecasts for temperature coverage. temps, it could still be anyone’s and precipitation, like those guess. More critically, however, is presented in Fig. 1. 4. WSU Viticulture and Enology whether our historically low snow Irrigation Webpage: http:// pack will be replenished in time for 2. NRCS Snowpack Reports: wine.wsu.edu/research- next spring. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda. extension/irrigation/ . The gov/ftpref/downloads/wsf/ . WSU Viticulture and Enology As we head into winter, WSU This file directory site lets users Program maintains a list of Viticulture Extension wants to make download the most recent Quick Links, including many sure all readers are aware of the report from the USDA Natural of the above, for a convenient, various resources that are available Resources Conservation Service central location for users to to track the developing snowpack (NRCS) regarding snowpack access information. situation as we move into next and water supply conditions. spring. Below is a list of resources Newer reports are posted at you might find helpful: the bottom of the page. 3. AgWeatherNet: http:// 1. NOAA Climate Information: weather.wsu.edu . http://www.noaa.gov/ AgWeatherNet boasts weekly climate.html . The National weather Outlooks, as well as Oceanic and Atmospheric options to sign up for weather Administration (NOAA) is a alerts. Links to the Office of Figure 1 – Forecast weather for November 2015 to January 2016, from NOAA. Figures from: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predic- tions/long_range/ . 3 A New Technique for Estimating Crop Coefficients By Jason Stout, WSU Post-Doc, and Joan Davenport, WSU-IAREC Determining how much water to conditions, the value for ETo is apply to a vineyard at any given typically smaller than ETr because point in the growing season can grass has a smaller canopy area be quite difficult. The amount of and loses less water than alfalfa. water necessary to replenish what Historically, when determining the was lost due to environmental amount of water used by wine factors, such as evaporation, and grapes, a crop coefficient (Kc) is what the plant took up from the applied to ETo (2) to better reflect soil need to be determined before the crop specific ET (ETc). The Kc applying irrigation. However, there value for grapes is typically less is disagreement over the best way than 1, indicating that the ETo to calculate the amount of water over-estimates the water need for used/lost in wine grapes.