Ice Storm. Pruning time in
the vineyard, MSU course in viticulture, New vines planted,
May grape recipe.
The ice storm that we mentioned did no damage to
the vines but made for some nice pictures.
Common questions people
ask us are:
Do you really have to prune every year?
What do you do - Just "cut them back"?
Yes! Some people think you can plant vines and just
let them "grow up the wire". You see this
in back yards all the time - A concord vine growing
all over the place. To maintain a healthy vine and good
crop every year the vines need to be pruned, leaving
only a trunk to support the vine and a certain number
of "buds" from last years growth.
pruning details .....
New vines planted! Approximately
3/4 more acre of vines have been planted. Two new
red varieties Chambourcin (a late ripening vine) and Frontenac
(mid season), along with a few new rows of concord have
been added. More Vignoles for whit wine was also planted.
Many of the vines that we planted a few years ago are now
in full crop - Baco Noir, St. Peppin, Niagara, Delaware
and more DeChaunac. If the
weather keeps up this should be a very good year.
**********************
MSU course in viticulture - this months
posting:
W.C. Paetz / HRT333 / Wine Judging Part IV - "Comparisons
& Book Reviews" / October 7, 2002
In the book; Windows On The World Complete
Wine Course, Kevin Zraly says, “If you talk to any
producers of Burgundy wines, They’ll tell you the
most important element in making their quality wines is
the soil in which the grapes are grown. This together with
the slope of the land and climatic conditions, determines
whether a wine is a Village wine, a Premier Cru, or a Grand
Cru. This concept of soil, slope, and climatic conditions
in French is known as terroir.” To continue this story ........
**********************
May grape recipe - Grape Gumdrops
Sandy Pruden - Michigan
This
Month in the Vineyard
