The Art of Growing Winegrapes to Make Great Wine

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The Art of Growing Winegrapesto Make Great Wine
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Growing Winegrapes
Art
Way of Life
Economics
Science
Jobs Exports
Tax Revenues Tourism
GREAT WINE!
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Production in Over 40 States
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Rural Renaissance

• More than 2,000 wineries in America
• A winery in every state
• Central part of the Rural Renaissance

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Great Wine Begins with Top-Quality Grapes

• Long-Term Investment
• 1 million investment to get started
• 3 years before vines produce viable crop
• Even longer to produce positive cash flow.

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Climate and Geography

• Soil type
• Average rainfall
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Sunshine
• Winds
• Other Climatic Factors

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Soil Sample

• Tuscan Stony Loam
• Well-drained
• Pebbles cobbles
• Low fertility
• Scarce water
• Makes for good grapes!

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Choices Site and Varietals

• Site determines quality
• Choosing the wrong site can be a costly mistake.
• Anticipating market demand is key.

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Spring
Growing Practices

• Frost protection
• Vine, bud protection
• Cover crops
• Mowing and chemical weed control

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Summer

• Canopy Management
• Moisture control
• Pest management
• Sulfur application
• Irrigation

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Fall

• Harvest
• Timing is key
• Birds love grapes, too!
• Busy time for growers and wineries.

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Winter

• Cover crops
• Controlled burns
• Pruning
• Weed control
• Grapes are dormant

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Growing with Care

• Dealing with the elements
• Water supply
• Weeds
• Protecting wildlife habitat
• Insect invasion

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Integrated Pest Management

• Ecology and dynamics of the crop
• Ecology and dynamics of the pests
• Assessing levels of pests natural enemies
• Establishing economic thresholds
• Use most appropriate controls
• chemical
• cultural
• biological
• behavioral
• genetic

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Water Conservation

• Drip irrigation
• Accurate fertilizer application
• Vineyards use less water than other farms and
  housing developments

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Soil Quality

• Add organic matter
• Build soil structure
• Micro-organisms
• Improve water penetration
• Minimize erosion and water run-off

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Owl Boxes and Raptor Perches
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Growing Responsibly

• Reducing herbicide use
• Using advanced technology
• Sound labor practices
• Reduced-risk pesticides

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World Wine Production

• U.S. is fourth largest wine producer in the
  world.
• Argentina, Germany, Australia and South Africa
  follow.
• U.S. share 7.2

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World Wine Consumption

• The United States ranks third in world wine
  consumption.
• But per capita consumption is a lowly 34th!

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U.S. Wine Exports

• Exports have climbed 16-fold from 35 million in
  1986 to 560 million today.
• California accounts for more than 90 of the
  nations wine exports.

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U.S. Wine Export Markets
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California

• 90 of US wine production
• 565,000 acres in 45 counties
• 847 commercial wineries - family owned
• Economic Impact 33 billion
• Fourth largest wine producer in the world

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Michigan

• Wine grape acreage- approximately
  1500 acres (2000 data)
• 24 increase since 1997
• Michigan wineries produce more than 200,000 cases
  of wine annually
• Approximately two million liters
• High proportion from Michigan Grown Grapes

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• Michigan has 30 wineries (up from 17 in 1995)
• Open to the public for tours and tasting
• There are an additional 14 tasting rooms
  affiliated with the wineries around the state
• Recent MSU study determined economic impact in
  2000 was 75 million
• 16.6 million attributed to
  tourist spending on non-winery products
  and services in those
  communities

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New York

• 121 wineries, 100 are new since 1985
• 2.7 million winery visitors last year
• 31,400 acres of grapes - 13,000 in winegrapes
• 40.8 million gallons of wine annually

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Washington

• Rapid Growth
• 30,000 acres of winegrapes
• 170 wineries
• 2.4 million economic impact
• Wine Region of the Year

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Oregon

• More than 180 wineries
• 11,000 winegrape acres
• Threefold growth since 1990
• 120 million in wine sales

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Texas

• 1.6 million gallons produced in 1997
• 40 wineries and growing
• 2 million gallon potential
• Annual economic impact 100 million

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Pennsylvania

• 68 family-owned wineries
• 14,000 acres of winegrapes
• Mild winter climates

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Ohio

• Long history of winemaking
• 60 new wineries since 1965
• State encourages growth in quality and quantity

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North Carolina

• 550,000 gallons annually
• 850 bearing acres
• Farmgate value 2.66 million
• Muscadines date back to Colonial days
• 25 million wine sales from 22 wineries

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Maryland

• 76 vineyards
• 200 growers
• 90,000 gallons

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Missouri

• 37 registered wineries
• 26 million in wine sales
• 256 jobs
• 450,000 gallons

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Virginia

• 200 commercial growers
• 71 licensed wineries
• 2,100 bearing acres
• 500,000 visitors

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Adding Value

• Rural Renaissance

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Adding Value

• Rural Renaissance

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Adding Value

• Rural Renaissance

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Adding Value

• Rural Renaissance

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Adding Value

• Rural Renaissance

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Appellation

• Denotes all-important geography and microclimate
• Informs the consumer
• Encourages quality standards
• Indicates unique climate, soil, topography and
  history

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Great Wine Comes from Top-Quality Grapes
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Acknowledgments
Project Director Karen Ross, President California
Association of Winegrape Growers Author and Art
Director Anne Chadwick The Chadwick Company
Facts and Photography
American Vintners Association Fetzer
Vineyards Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape
Commission North Carolina Department of
Agriculture Ohio Wine Producers Association
Oregon Wine Advisory Board Pennsylvania Wine
Association Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers
Alliance
Sonoma County Grape Growers Association Texas
Department of Agriculture University of
California Washington Wine Commission Winegrape
Growers of America Wine Institute WineVision