welcome to veraison to harvest - viticulture · now in its 9th year, veraison to harvest is a joint...

Veraison to HarVestStatewide Vineyard Crop Development Update #1

September 4, 2015Edited by Tim Martinson and Chris Gerling

Frontenac vineyard that set a second crop after the May 22 frost – we will be comparing fruit composition on clusters from primary shoots that survived the frost and second-ary shoots that emerged a few weeks after bloom. Look for samples labeled “Clayton-first crop” and “Clayton-second crop”.

Frontenac in the Thousand Islands. On May 22, a spring frost affected many vineyards in different regions of New York. In the Thousand Islands region, this Frontenac vineyard was frosted when shoots were at the 6-12 inch stage. On June 29 (Top) a por-tion was past fruit set (r), while a ‘second crop’ (l) from secondary shoots was still about a week away from bloom. By August 19 (bottom) ‘First crop’ grapes had passed through veraison, while ‘second crop’ clusters were still green - and as of August 31 are just passing through veraison. Sample results for frost-affected Frontenac and Marquette are listed in the Fruit Composition Table (pp 5-7). Will this ‘second crop’ get ripe? Stay tuned, as we’ll be following these over the next several weeks.

Photos by Tim Martinson

Welcome to Veraison to HarvestNow in its 9th year, Veraison to Harvest is a joint project of the Lake Erie, Finger Lakes, Eastern New York, Long Island and Statewide grape extension programs and the Cornell Enology Extension program. Each week we provide basic fruit composition information from 72 (this year) vineyards across New York – along with updates from each region and features on research and extension projects across the state. This year, we have expanded coverage of several ‘Cold-Hardy’ cultivars such as Marquette and Frontenac – and we welcome Anna Wallis, based in Plattsburgh, NY as a new contributor.

Our thanks to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, Inc. – a group of juice and wine processors that funds projects through a vol-untary tonnage-based contribution. We couldn’t produce this newsletter or do the fruit sampling without financial support from these organizations.

-Chris Gerling and Tim Martinson, Co-editors

Around New York...Statewide (Tim Martinson)Last year was a late year. When we started sampling, we reported that maturity was lagging 3-6° brix behind 2013 (sort of an average year), and another 3° brix behind the ex-traordinarily warm and early 2012. Maturity indicators are running well ahead of 2014 – with some soluble solids and titratable acidity looking a lot like 2012. Cabernet Franc (to pick one) – currently averaging 15.3 ° brix and 13.5 g/l ti-tratable acidity (TA) doesn’t look much different than 2012’s 15.6 ° brix and 12.5 g/L TAs – and well ahead of 2013’s 13.2 ° brix and 17 g/l TA. As I go down the table (p 5-7), I see Concord 2.4° higher brix and -5.0 g/l lower TA than last year. Riesling is 3.2 ° brix higher, with acids 2 g/l lower than 2013. That’s pretty much the story. This year if the heat holds up will be an early year – though I’m doubtful that it will compare to 2012. This year we have expanded our coverage of cold-hardy cultivars, with samples for Marquette, Frontenac, Fronte-nac gris, La Crescent, and St Croix. These are varieties with relatively small acreage, but being planted widely across the state. And I’m following a frost-injured Marquette and

June 29

August 19

Long Island (Alice Wise)Hot, dry summers are becoming the new normal. Again in 2015, Long Island has endured an extended drought June through August with below average rainfall, temperatures consistently in the mid-upper 80’s and high relative humidity. August 4 and 11 were the only days that month with appreciable rain-fall, 0.8” and 0.9” respectively. By the end of August, 2666 GDD had accumulated. By that measure, 2015 has been slightly warmer than 2013 and 2014 but not quite as warm as 2010 or 2012. Speaking for those who spend a lot of time outside, it has felt like one of Long Island’s warmer seasons.

Harvest for sparkling wine started this week, an early start, maybe the earliest ever seen in the industry. Dur-ing the last few weeks, flavor development has pro-gressed nicely for both whites and reds. In the research vineyard, early white varieties such as Auxerrois (a sibling to Chardonnay) have taken on that translu-cent glow. It is striking to see these clusters against the backdrop of shoots with golden brown periderm. Sauvignon Blanc is also ripening quickly. Seeds are progressively browner every time we taste berries, an-other sign that harvest is near for many varieties. This can be said for the nascent 2015 harvest season: so far so good.

Hudson Valley and Champlain (Jim O’Connell and Anna Wallis)Hudson Valley. The hot weather and dry soil conditions continue in the Hudson Valley. Total rain fall for the past two months was less than five inches. Growers with drip irrigation have turned it on to prevent exces-sive drought stress in vines. Those without irrigation are hoping for some rain in the near future.

The humidity has been on the rise in the past several weeks and with it an increase in downy mildew pres-sure. Harvest time is close for some, with reports of Pinot noir harvest next week in the southern part of the valley, and hybrid harvests (e.g. Baco noir) in the northern part of the valley, and as such growers are weighing the costs and timing of another spray before harvest.

At the Hudson Valley Lab in Highland, if this trend of warm sun shining days continue, Foch may be ready to harvest next week. Pinot noir is developing nice color, but still needs some hang time to raise the brix levels.

Champlain Valley. Weather has also been hot in the northern part of the region, with highs in the 90s and little rainfall the past few weeks. Fortunately, more rain was received during the growing season in Cham-plain than in the Hudson Valley (6+ inches in July and August). Weather forecasted for the next 5 days in-

cludes highs in the upper 80’s, and lows in the 60’s, which will accelerate fruit maturity.

Dry weather has been helpful in minimizing late-sea-son disease. This is obviously with the exception of powdery mildew, however little incidence of powdery mildew has been reported. The dry conditions at the beginning of the season surrounding bloom period (nearly all of May and the beginning of June) likely helped minimized disease pressure in general this sea-son.

The earliest varieties will be harvested very soon, pos-sibly within a week. Most notably Edelweiss, which can acquire a foxiness if left on the vine a day too long. Other varieties will be close to follow if the hot weather keeps up.

Lake Erie (Luke Haggerty)For all Lake Erie grape growers, 2015 has been a year of extremes. We had a very cold winter, extremely wet June and July, and a dry August. All of these climatic events have resulted in a crop with great variability. It should be an interesting harvest for the Lake Erie region.

The low temperatures in February ranged from -17oF to -30oF. To some extent, the cold temperatures inflict-ed freeze damage to all grape varieties. The majority of vinifera cultivars have died to ground level leaving little or no crop to be harvested this year. Freeze dam-age on hybrid and native grape cultivars is a mixed bag. Minnesota and French hybrids had very minimal damage. However, less hardy Traminette, Noiret, and Vidal suffered primary bud loss and trunk damage. Damage to Niagara vineyards is variable with minimal to severe damage; most blocks are expecting less than 50% of an average crop. Concords have fared much better. Many growers were able to compensate for bud damage during pruning, and crop estimations are showing a slightly below average crop.

Lake Erie received heavy rainfall of up to 6 inches in late June, provoking flooding in some vineyards.

Photo by Luke Haggerty

June and July were very wet months, and most of the area received between 10 and 15 inches of rain during these two months. Areas between Westfield and Broc-ton, NY had severe flooding on July 14th when a storm dropped 5 to 7 inches of rain in 14 hours. Vines on heavy ground and in low spots were showing signs of hypoxia during the first two weeks of July. However, during the past 45 days, most of the region has had less than two inches of rain. Needless to say the ground has dried out and sugar accumulation is right on track.

Finger Lakes (Hans Walter-Peterson).Harvest got underway in the Finger Lakes this week, with Constellation Brands opening up for Aurore and Elvira fruit. Initial reports from a couple of growers is that yields of both varieties are looking good so far. We have also seen a couple of early loads of Chardonnay picked for sparkling wine this week as well.

Rain was the predominant theme of June and early July in the Finger Lakes, which caused some early concerns about botrytis and downy mildew getting established and potentially causing problems later in the season. Fortunately, the area has been experiencing an extend-ed stretch of dry weather, which has helped to keep disease development in check during the first weeks after veraison. In fact, the Finger Lakes has been essen-tially rain free for two consecutive weeks. While we are not seeing any symptoms of drought stress right now, growers with vineyards on shallow or well-drained soils, or young vines, should be keeping an eye on the level of water stress their vines are experiencing, in case this stretch of dry weather continues.

Crop levels are again being influenced by a second hard winter in a row, especially with vinifera variet-ies. As was the case last year, how much of an effect is highly dependent on variety and location, but it is fair to say that production from vinifera varieties in general is down from normal this year. Many growers have more buyers than they have fruit in some varieties this year. Most of the ads on the NY Grape & Wine Clas-sifieds from people looking for fruit are focused on vinifera varieties, while ads from those selling grapes are primarily selling native and hybrid varieties. Crop levels for most native and hybrid varieties look to be in good shape, but not close to the very large crops that many growers had over the past couple of years.

2015 Lake Erie Concord Update: Terry Bates

September 3, 2015. Concord fresh berry weight is slightly larger than the long term mean as we head into the fruit ripening phase. Early season berry weight was a little low but high precipitation in June, including 6 inches of rain in one event, increased berry weight around 30 days after bloom. Berry weight has remained above average the rest of the season, even though much drier conditions. Good post-veraision berry weight and Brix accumulation rates indicates that the vines still have adequate vine water status.

Fruit Composition report - 9/04/2015Samples reported here were collected on Monday, August 31. Where appropriate, sample data from 2014, averaged over all sites is included. Tables from 2014 are archived at http://grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/newsletters/veraison-harvest

We are again reporting berry weight, brix, titratable acidity and pH, and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN). This week, we will not be reporting YAN. YAN sampling will resume next week. - TEM Cabernet Franc

Region Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.36 16.9 3.04 10.5Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca 1.51 17.1 2.99 11.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Seneca 1.24 15.1 2.88 14.5Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Cayuga 1.18 15.4 2.91 14.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Wayne County 0.66 11.5 2.61 25.4Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Geneva 1.56 14.8 2.97 15.5

Hudson Valley 8/31/2015 HVRL Vineyard Highland 1.56 14.9 3.11 11.4Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-05 1.97 16.2 3.17 9.2Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-09 1.41 15.6 3.28 8.2

Average 8/31/2015 1.39 15.3 3.00 13.5Prev. Sample‘14 Average 8/25/2014 1.22 11.3 2.70 20.8 71

CatawbaRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 2.39 10.0 2.57 Too highPrev Sample‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 Keuka 2.28 6.1 2.44 * 172

Cayuga WhiteRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 2.57 14.0 2.82 15.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Cayuga 2.71 16.4 3.04 11.3Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 2.92 16.8 3.04 10.6

Average 8/31/2015 2.73 15.7 2.97 12.6Prev Sample‘14 Average 8/25/2014 2.32 12.4 2.70 17.6 108

ChardonnayRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Cayuga 1.28 15.3 2.95 13.1Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Seneca 1.28 14.7 2.79 17.0Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.45 18.2 3.09 8.5Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-03 1.79 17.9 3.30 9.4

Average 8/31/2015 1.45 16.5 3.03 12.0Prev. Sample‘14 Average 8/25/2014 1.27 13.3 2.83 17.1 116

ConcordRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 3.25 10.6 2.92 16.1Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Canandaigua 3.21 11.3 2.86 14.7

Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Portland 3.38 11.3 2.93 16.6Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Fredonia 3.27 11.9 2.90 16.7Average 8/31/2015 3.28 11.3 2.90 16.0

Prev Sample‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 2.75 8.9 2.62 23.2 162

Corot NoirRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 2.12 14.5 3.01 12.3Prev Sample’14 Sample 8/25/2014 Teaching Vyd 1.51 11.5 2.70 19.7 41

FrontenacRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Champlain Valley 8/31/2015 Willsboro 1.67 19.0 2.91 20.2Thousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton - 1st crop 1.24 18.6 3.02 22.0Thousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton - 2nd crop 1.12 11.9 2.73 Too highThousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton 0.97 17.8 2.91 18.0

Average 8/31/2015 1.25 16.8 2.89 20.1Prev Sample

Frontenac GrisRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Champlain Valley 8/31/2015 Willsboro 1.23 19.6 2.90 19.3 142Prev Sample

Gruner VeltlinerRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.68 17.0 3.09 7.9Prev Sample‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 Teaching Vyd 1.31 13.0 2.88 13.9 223

La CrescentRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Geneva 1.46 20.9 2.99 19.0Champlain Valley 8/31/2015 Willsboro 1.27 16.8 2.87 20.4

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Trumansburg 1.04 19.0 3.00 18.6Average 8/31/2015 1.26 18.9 2.95 19.3 72

Prev. Average

LembergerRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 1.59 17.1 2.94 13.3Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.88 17.4 3.08 10.0

Average 8/31/2015 1.74 17.3 3.01 11.7Prev. Average

‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 1.36 12.9 2.78 19.2 146

MalbecRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-06 2.33 15.6 3.14 11.9Prev Sample’14 Sample 8/25/2014 LI-06 2.06 12.1 2.81 19.6 122

MerlotRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Hudson Valley 8/31/2015 HVRL Highland 1.58 15.4 3.25 9.8Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-04 1.95 17.3 3.36 8.2Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-10 1.56 17.4 3.36 7.7

Average 8/31/2015 1.70 16.7 3.32 8.6‘14 Average 8/25/2014 1.63 11.0 2.88 15.5 103

MarquetteRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Champlain Valley 8/31/2015 Willsboro 1.45 19.0 2.91 16.6Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 1.16 22.4 2.98 13.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Trumansburg 1.20 20.9 3.03 14.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Tch/3309 1.42 20.4 3.14 13.3Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Tch/own 1.41 20.7 3.12 12.6

Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Fredonia 1.26 18.8 3.06 14.5Thousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton - 1st crop 1.34 20.1 2.99 19.4Thousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton - 2nd crop 1.07 13.7 2.75 Too highThousand Islands 8/31/2015 Clayton 1.07 15.8 2.80 14.7

Average 8/31/2015 1.26 19.1 2.98 15.0Prev. Average

‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 1.05 19.8 2.91 15.8 181

NiagaraRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Portland 3.46 12.2 2.95 10.0Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Fredonia 3.62 12.4 2.99 11.4Average 8/31/2015 3.54 12.3 2.97 10.7

Prev Sample‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 Portland 3.56 9.5 2.70 20.7 164

NoiretRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Wayne County 1.40 13.6 2.89 15.4Hudson Valley 8/31/2015 HVRL Highland 1.73 16.0 3.17 14.5

Average 8/31/2015 1.57 14.8 3.03 15.0Prev Sample‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 1.65 12.5 2.89 19.0 255

Pinot NoirRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca 1.33 17.6 3.12 9.8Prev Sample ‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 E. Seneca 1.17 14.0 2.87 16.5 108

Sauvignon BlancRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-02 1.35 19.1 3.18 9.8Prev Sample’14 Sample 8/25/2014 LI-02 1.08 14.7 2.81 16.0 79

Seyval BlancRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Cayuga 1.90 16.7 3.08 11.1Lake Erie 8/31/2015 Fredonia 1.37 13.1 2.87 13.1Average 8/31/2015 1.63 14.9 2.98 12.1

‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 1.58 13.9 2.86 14.9 128

St CroixRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Geneva 1.92 17.1 3.11 11.8

RieslingRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca 1.43 15.2 2.88 16.1Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Seneca 1.22 13.5 2.78 18.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca 1.41 14.9 2.91 17.1Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 CL 90 Cayuga 1.34 15.4 2.80 19.6Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 0.97 12.1 2.77 20.4Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Seneca 1.31 13.8 2.79 20.0Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Canandaigua 1.13 12.2 2.76 22.1Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Wayne County 1.08 11.8 2.74 23.3Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Geneva 1.53 14.3 2.90 17.2Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca -Cl 198 1.36 16.3 2.89 13.3Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca-Cl239 1.20 17.7 2.85 14.8Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching/3309 1.28 16.3 2.89 13.9Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 E. Seneca-Cl 90 1.20 17.3 2.82 13.9

Hudson Valley 8/31/2015 HVRL Highland 1.44 14.8 3.04 12.1Long Island 8/31/2015 LI-01 1.31 15.2 3.05 12.4

Average 8/31/2015 1.28 14.7 2.86 17.0‘14 Sample 8/25/2014 1.06 9.1 2.66 24.7 142

TraminetteRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Keuka 1.80 12.1 2.70 26.0Hudson Valley 8/31/2015 HVRL Highland 2.05 16.6 3.09 13.1


Vidal BlancRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.96 15.5 2.99 14.1Prev Sample’14 Sample 8/25/2014 Teaching Vyd 1.76 12.5 2.78 18.6 118

VignolesRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 VSP Keuka 1.48 14.8 2.88 22.0Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 W. Seneca 1.72 16.7 2.94 17.7


ZweigeltRegion Harvest Date Description Ber. Wt. g. % Brix pH TA g/L YAN (ppm)

Finger Lakes 8/31/2015 Dresden-Teaching 1.93 17.1 3.07 8.8

This newsletter was made possible with support from the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, Inc. and the New

York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University..

Veraison to Harvest is a joint publication of:

Cornell Enology Extension Program

Statewide Viticulture Extension Program

Long Island Grape Program

Finger Lakes Grape Program

Lake Erie Regional Grape Program

Eastern New York Regional Horticulture Program

The information, including any advice or recommendations, con-tained herein is based upon the research and experience of Cornell Cooperative Extension personnel. While this information constitutes the best judgement/opinion of such personnel at the time issued, neither Cornell Cooperative Extension nor any representative thereof makes any representation or warrantee, express or implied, of any particular result or application of such information, or re-garding any product. Users of any product are encouraged to read and follow product-labeling instructions and check with the manu-facturer or supplier for updated information. Nothing contained in this information should be interpreted as an endorsement expressed or implied of any particular product.

Sample Size

For our Veraison to Harvest fruit composition samples, we use 100 berries, sampled randomly from two rows (down and back) of each vineyard sampled.

Photo by Hans Walter-Peterson

welcome to veraison to harvest - viticulture · now in its 9th year, veraison to harvest is a joint...

Documents