The Virginia Winespot

Pest Control Class

2009-07-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

PEST CONTROL CLASS
July 18, 2009

We've had several classes since my last post...Canopy Management, Wine Tasting and Analysis, Vineyard Management and Pest Control. I'll try to catch up.

Our Pest Control class was held on July 18, 2009 at Monticello. Our instructor was the acclaimed vigneron, Gabriele Rausse. This class introduces students to the various types of pests and diseases that can cause damage in a vineyard. After class we visited several local vineyards. With the wet weather we've been having, it wasn't difficult to find good examples of the various diseases and pests that afflict a vineyard.

Some of the pests and disease we talked about in class were:

Black Rot - a fungal disease. Onset is usually after berry set. This is a very dangerous disease that can cause serious economic loss, but it is easily controlled with a standard spray program. The best fungicide for Black Rot is Nova.
Downy Mildew - a fungal disease. Downy Mildew begins with a mild yellow spot on the leaf. The spot may look like an oil spot. The berries on infected clusters become brown and eventually they shrivel. The best fungicide to use for Downy Mildew is Ridomil, but it must be used well before harvest.
Powdery Mildew - a fungal disease. This fungus can infect all green tissues of the garpevine. It start as a whiteish powder on the leaf. The best fungicide to use is sulphur.
Amillaria Root Rot - a fungus that attacks the roots. to correct this, one must raise the soil pH.
Grape Berry Moth - an insect that attacks the grape berry. Damage is done by the larvae that can tunnel into the berry. A good insecticide to use is Dipel.

These are just a few of the pest and diseases we covered in class. Some of the others we discussed were phomopsis, eutypa dieback, black goo, tomato ringspot, and crown gall. Tony Wolf's new book, Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America, has several chapters on disease, pest and weed management. It's an excellent resource!

Our class took us to Blenheim Vineyards where we enjoyed a wine tasting with their winemaker, Kirsty Harmon. Blenheim offers some excellent wines! I really enjoyed their 2008 Chardonnay and their 2008 Seven Oaks Merlot.

For more information on Blenheim Vineyards, visit their website www.blenheimvineyards.com.

For more information on Tony Wolf's new book, visit www.nraes.org/nra_winegrapecontent.html

Here are some pictures from class.

The Wines of Virginia

2009-06-10T18:11:00.001-07:00

The Wines of Virginia

Grape Radio has an interview with Michael Shaps, Jim Law, Tony Wolf and Toby Beard. Their topic: "The Wines of Virginia." Click on the link below.

The Wines of Virginia

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VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

2009-06-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

Vineyard Management Field Experience
June 6, 2009

After a few weeks off, our classes resumed on June 6th. Again we were at DuCard Vineyards in Etlan, VA for our Vineyard management class. This was our third class in a series of classes that will take us through to harvest. 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.

Our class last met in May. Our task then was shoot thinning and trunk cleaning. This week, our task was combing and shoot positioning. At DuCard, the trellis system used is the Geneva Double Curtain (GDC). One advantage of using the GDC is an increased yield of grapes. This system can handle high vigor. However, both combing and shoot positioning are critical tasks for a successful GDC system.

In a perfect world, shoots would grow either up or down parallel to the trunk, depending on the trellising system used. In the real world, shoots grow up, down and sideways. They attach to the cordon wire, to each other, and to grape clusters with their tendrils. Shoot positioning helps to control this lateral and horizontal growth. It also helps maintain good sunlight penetration. Combing is the term used for positioning the shoots downward.

Here are some pictures from class.

Look at the pictures from last class to see how much the vines have grown.

Next week is Canopy Management class. Until then...

Cheers!

Greg

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - FIELD EXPERIENCE

2009-05-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

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.

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:

Reduces total yield

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

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

2009-05-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Sparkling Wine Making - Part I

2009-04-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

SPARKLING WINE MAKING - PART I
Saturday, April 25, 2009

Our Sparkling Wine Making class met on April 25th. Champagne native and master sparkling wine maker, Claude Thibaut, was our instructor. Claude grew up in the Champagne region of France and he has worked as a sparkling wine maker in France, Australia, California, and now Virginia. After our classroom session at PVCC we went to Veritas Winery where Claude makes his sparkling wine. It was a great class! Here are some of my notes from class and some pictures:

Only three grapes varieties are allowed in the production of Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
The Champagne region of France lies at the northernmost limit of vine cultivation. It has an annual average temperature of 50 degrees Farenheit.
The two most popular methods for making sparkling wine are: Methode Champenoise, the traditional method, and the Charmat Method, also called the tank method.
For sparkling wines, the levels of sweetness from least to most sweet are: Brut natural/Brut zero, Brut (most common), Dry, Sec, Demi-sec, and Doux.
The United States produces about 110 million bottles of sparkling wine.

Claude makes an excellent Virginia sparkling wine called Thibaut-Janisson. It's a Blanc de Blanc, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. It has aromas of apples and pears, and a crisp, refreshing taste.

Next week: Our Legal Issues in the Wine Industry class being held at Cardinal Point Winery.

2009-04-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

SOIL PREP AND PLANTING CLASS
APRIL 18, 2009
DELFOSSE VINEYARDS

Our Soil Preparation and Planting class met on Saturday, April 18th. Our Instructor was the award winning grape grower, Chris Hill.

When planting vines:

Holes should be about 10" deep - use an auger!
The graft union should be about 2" above the soil
For ungrafted vines with no graft union, a less shallow hole is needed. Just get the roots in the ground.

After our classroom session, we went to DelFosse Vineyards and Winery and we planted about 100 Malbec vines. Here are some pictures.

It was a beautiful day to be in a vineyard!

DelFosse Winery offers some excellent wines. I would recommend their Chardonnay Reserve, Viognier Reserve and their Merlot. They are also one of the few Virginia wineries that offer Malbec as a varietal. For more information about Delfosse Vineyards and Winery check out their website at http://www.delfossewine.com.