VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Our Vineyard Management class met on May 9, 2009 at DuCard Vineyards in Madison County. This class was the second in a series of classes that takes students through the entire growing season. Our instructor and host was Scott Elliff, owner of DuCard Vineyards.

In this class, students adopt a row of vines for the entire growing season and are responsible for managing and maintaining an assigned section of a working vineyard. Students learn the techniques for caring for healthy vines and they learn the critical decisions a vineyard manager must make to maintain healthy vines.

We last met in March. Our task then was dormant pruning. This week, our task was shoot thinning and trunk cleaning. Shoot thinning is essential to the production of better grapes. When done early in the season, shoot thinning prevents the vine from putting too much energy into growing excess shoots and foliage. It allows the vine to put its energy into the grape clusters. Thinning also:

1. 
   
   Reduces total yield


2. 
   
   Helps maintain an ideal canopy by allowing good air circulation and sunlight exposure


3. 
   
   Keeps the canopy open for a more effective spray program.

The trellis system used at DuCard Vineyards is the Geneva Double Curtain (GDC). This system creates two rows of canopy from one. The shoots are positioned outward and downward.

Here are some pictures from class.

This will be our last class for a few weeks. We pick up again on June 6th at DuCard Vineyards. I'll try to keep up with the weekly posts.

For more information on DuCard Vineyards and their wines, visit their website, http://www.ducardvineyards.com.

Cheers!

Greg

Legal Issues in the Wine Industry

Legal Issues in the Wine Industry
May 2, 2009

Our Legal Issues in the Wine Industry class met on May 2nd at Cardinal Point Winery. Our instructor was Terri Cofer Beirne, Esq., Eastern Counsel for The Wine Institute. The Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy association for California wineries.

Students received a large three-inch binder full of information and resources. Among other things, Terri gave students:

• a general understanding of the federal and state legal and regulatory schemes that enable the production and sale of alcohol in Virginia
• exposure to the key Virginia laws that govern the production of farm wine
• a general understanding of the limitations that counties can place on the sale, distribution and marketing of farm wine, as well as ancillary activities at farm wineries
• access to information about the resources available to find answers to specific questions about most aspects of owning and running a winery
• exposure to public policy issues that are currently shaping the production, distribution and sale of Virginia wine.

Here are some Virginia wine facts:

• Virginia is the home of six "American Viticulture Areas" (AVA) designations. An AVA is a grape-growing region defined by its geographic features which affect the type and style of wine that it produces.
• Currently, Virginia has about 145 wineries and about 275 vineyards
• Virginia is home to eleven 'Virginia Wine Trails.'
• Virginia is eighth in the nation for wine production.

This class is essential for anyone interested in the Virginia wine industry. As one student said (whose family owns a vineyard and winery), "I had more questions answered in one day then I've had in years."

Here are some pictures of class and Cardinal Point Winery. For more information on Cardinal Point Winery, visit their website: http://www.cardinalpointwinery.com.

For more information on the Wine Institute, visit their website: http://www.wineinstitute.org.

Next week: Vineyard Management class.