Overview of Wine Grape Project at WSU Mount Vernon

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Overview of Wine Grape Project at WSU Mount
Vernon

• 2000- 2004
• G.A. Moulton
• WSU - Mount Vernon

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Program Objectives

• Select the right varieties and rootstocks for
  local conditions
• Maximize use of cultural practices to enhance
  quality
• Evaluate resulting wines from promising varieties

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Progress to date

• A number of promising cultivars (both white and
  red) have been identified
• Rootstocks that promote earlier ripening in our
  soil and climate conditions have been identified
• Certain cultural and canopy management practices
  have been adopted that contribute to improved
  ripening

4
Site Selection

• Well drained
• Southerly or southwest slope
• Light (sandy) soils are preferable

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Know the heat units at your siteMeasured from
April 1 to October 31, base 50 degrees
Avatel
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Take a good soil sample

• 0-8 top soil
• 8-16 subsoil

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Soil Fertility Guidelines(based on W. Stiles)
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Timely application of micronutrients is
important

• Zn apply about 2 weeks before and after bloom
  to promote full berry clusters
• B apply at bloom time (with botrytis spray) for
  increased fruit set

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Varieties Rootstocks

• Try to obtain certified virus free stock
  wherever possible
• Be sure that both rootstock and variety are free
  of phylloxera

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Most Promising Rootstocks

• Millardet et de Grasset 101-14
• Couderc 3309
• Millardet et de Grasset 420A

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Comparison of harvest results of Pinot Noir on
selected rootstocks
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Effects of rootstock differences

• All rootstocks had lower TA levels than self
  rooted table shows those where differences were
  statistically significant.
• All had higher pH than self rooted but
  differences did not reach 5 level of
  significance except for 5BB.
• All had higher brix readings than self rooted but
  did not reach 5 level of significant difference.
• Cluster weight varied and some differences were
  significant. The biggest difference was between
  C3309 and 5C.
• Both 101-14 and 420A had lower titratable acid
  and higher brix than self rooted, though yields
  were statistically the same.

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Promising Red Varieties

• Agria
• Dornfelder
• Dunkelfelder
• Garanoir
• Golubok
• Leon Millot

• Muscat of Norway
• Pinot Noir (clones)
• Regent
• Zweigelt

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Agria
Harvest 10/05Brix 18.1 TA 0.87
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Muscat of Norway
Harvest 10/06Brix 18.5 T.A 0.90
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Garanoir
Harvest 10/06Brix 17.4 TA 0.96
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Harvest 10/09Brix 20.6 TA 0.90
Leon Millot
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Regent
Harvest 10/13Brix 19.6 TA 0.89
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Dunkelfelder
Harvest 10/18Brix 20.2 TA 1.10
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Golubok
Harvest 10/18 Brix 21.7 TA 1.25
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Zweigelt
Harvest 10/18Brix 18.4 TA 0.98
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Dornfelder
Harvest 10/23Brix 17.6 TA 0.89
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Pinot Noir
Harvest 10/27Brix 20.5 TA 1.13
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Promising White Varieties

• Burmunk
• Iskorka
• Madeleine Angevine
• Optima
• Ortega

• Pinot Gris
• Reichensteiner
• Schonburger
• Siegerrebe
• Sylvaner

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Burmunk
Harvest 10/03 Brix 23.2 TA 0.98
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Ortega
Harvest 10/03 Brix 20.6 TA 0.91
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Iskorka
Harvest 10/03Brix 20.2 TA 0.71
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Madeleine Angevine
Harvest 10/03Brix 19.0 TA 0.82
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Schonburger
Harvest 10/03Brix 19.5 TA 0.66
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Siegerrebe
Harvest 10/06Brix 19.5 TA 0.60
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Reichensteiner
Harvest 10/06Brix 19.6 TA 0.94
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Optima
Harvest 10/06Brix 18.3 TA 1.01
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Pinot Gris
Harvest 10/09Brix 19.4 TA 1.04
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Sylvaner
Harvest 10/13Brix 16.8 TA 0.90
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Good cultural practices

• bring young grape plants into early production

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Establish a strong vigorous vine by the end of
the first years growing season
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Prune newly planted grape vine to 2 buds
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New Planting
Prune new plant to 2 budsIn spring, select
strongest new shootTrain tie to stake,
pinching out any side shootsDormant season
bend tie to wire
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Select the strongest shoot to train to the wire
and pinch off other side shoots
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Tie or tape shoot to stake as it grows and when
it reaches the wire
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Monitor soil moisture using irrometers

• Drought stress aggravates nutrient deficiency,
  especially potash
• Stress shuts down photosynthesis
• Severe stress causes leaf drop

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Pest Control

• Diseases
• Insects
• Weeds
• Vertebrate Pests

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Pinot Noir Cultural Studies
Cluster thinning Plastic row shield
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Pinot Noir 2A1 cluster/shoot vs. 2 clusters/shoot
Row spacing at 10 x 6. 1. Yield of vines with 2
clusters/shoot averaged 38 higher than plots
with 1 cluster. 2. No significant difference
was found between the treatments in measurement
of pH, brix, or titratable acid.
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Plastic row shield applied in April
Advanced bloom by approximately 2 weeks Developed
earlier color Advanced fruit maturity
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Pinot Noir on 8/29/03Plastic (L), No plastic (R)
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Harvest balancing fruit maturity and weather
factors
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Coordinate harvest schedules with the winemaker
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Crusher-destemmer in operation
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Hydraulic press in operation
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Help from volunteers is greatly appreciated,
especially at harvest time
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Future Trial Objectives- Cultivars Rootstocks

• Test some of the top rated varieties on the 3
  best performing rootstocks
• Evaluate several promising early ripening Pinot
  Noir clones on the 3 best performing rootstocks

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Future Trial Objectives- Cultural

• Conduct a trial of vines planted at different
  spacings to determine the optimum conditions for
  best yield and quality
• Develop a standard methodology for wine
  evaluation and enlist local wine makers as
  evaluators/cooperators

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Wine Cooperators 2003

• Tom Bronkema, Wine Consultant
• Tom Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm
• Lopez Island Winery Brent Charnley
• San Juan Vineyards Kurt Niznik
• Vashon Island Winery Ron Irvine
• Carpenter Creek Winery Jeff Hammer
• Pasek Cellars Gene Pasek
• Chuck Jackson, Boeing Wine Club

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Wine Cooperators 2003, cont.

• Steve Susan Olsen
• Lou Hollers
• Bob Tombs
• Steven Mohns
• Lynne Irelan
• Jim Haack
• Steve Wilbur
• Bill Swartz
• Megan Rutherford
• Pete Bradley

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PhotographyJ. King and G.H. SpitlerWSU-Mount
Vernon
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