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Spring Pruning 2010

We had a good crew this spring with about 12 or more youths. Most of the work was completed around Easter when the kids were off from school.

We continued to use a hedger tool on a lot of rows. It does not look as pretty but it gets the job done. The rest of the vineyard was finished with hand pruning. Click here for more pictures of this years crew...

More pruning images from last year....

Spring Frosts in the Vineyard

Spring Frost are always a problem for grape growers. As the days in Spring advance the chance of a frost becomes less - but as the buds develop they get increasingly more sensitive to cold.

When the buds break and shoots develop, any green tissue will be severly damaged by freezing temperatures.

I always liked to have our vineyard pruned before Mothers Day, before the buds get too large and may be damaged by brush pulling.

This year we had nice warm weather that felt great but caused the bud growth to advance a little more than normal.

We had a pretty hard freeze around Mothers Day that burned much of the green growth off of the vines.

The only good part of this scenario is that we have been doing a lot of hedge pruning that leaves on a lot of extra buds. This was good for us this year and we will still have a somewhat normal crop.
Last years hedge pruning...

Two years ago we had a devastating freeze on Memorial Day, by then the vines were very advanced and much damage was done.

2008 Late season freeze....

June 1 - The vineyard has recovered pretty good from the earlier freeze and a lot of shoots are growing. While a few varieties will have a limited crop, most look pretty good.

About Michigan Grapes and Wines

Each year, Michigan's wine, grapes and grape juice products and related industries ...

... produce nearly $790 million of total economic value to the State of Michigan

... pay more than $42 million in state and local taxes in Michigan, and an additional $42 million in federal taxes

... account for more than 5,000 jobs across the state, for a payroll of more than $190 million

More at Michigan Wines Home Page......

Early History of the Michigan Wine Industry
Michigan Wine Grape Varieties
Fast Facts

Full-Bodied Glossary of Wine Terms

Wine is enjoyed by people all over the world from the casual drinker to wine sommeliers. There is nothing quite like enjoying a glass of wine while relaxing around the house and watching a little television. Some decide to have a little wine while at a lounge, wine bar or elegant restaurant. You may be familiar with the different types of wine brands, but what about the terminology? Wine is a type of alcoholic beverage made from many different types of grapes, skins and seeds. This source will provide you with a list of wine terms and their meanings.
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