Vineyard Management Practices

[mdbarb]

There are many many vineyards just a few minutes from me (Napa and Sonoma counties, California)
Since I am just now getting into viticulture on a small scale, I never noticed how the big boys harvested. Never been at the right place at the right time. I will definetly be making an effort this year. Jsut guessing from the trellising systems - some of the older ones must be handpicked but surely the newer vineyards are trellised to accomodate mechanical harvesting. I'll get back to you on that. I'll also see if I can find out what different grapes usually sell for around here, for some fun comparisions.
I am currentyl reading "Sunlight into Wine" by Richard Smart which discusses the pros and cons to various trellis systems.
I am only planting a few hundred vines so I can keep a very close eye on my babies without quiting my day job

 

[toddwulf]

We have a cheap labor source out here that provides it's own transportation to a from Mexico so much is done manually but I would suspect that the larger guy's use the Braud's as they are well over $40K or $50K used I think.

Barb, glad to hear you ordered your rootstock. How much did you pay for the stock? (I hear they are between $2.5 to $4 each. Up here in El Dorado County, bulk grapes sell for $400 to $1300/Ton.

My math tells me that it's about 750-1000 plants per acre with a yield of somewhere between 3-8 tons per acres depending on variety, conditions, weather etc.. When are you supposed to receive the stock and are you going to use grow tubes? I'm going to my first EDWGGA (El Dorado Wine Grape Gorwers Assoc.) meeting in Feb. Do you have a number and/or web site for the root stock nursery?

 

[mdbarb]

The rootstock is almost $4.00. green plants would have been cheaper.their minimum is usually 250 of any particular clone/rootstock combination - so I was below the minimum but they are going to make it work. I would be getting deep discounts if my order was in the thousands instead of hundreds. Purchased from Sunridge Nursery in Bakersfield www.sunridgenurseries.com 661-363-8463
They come highly recommended as selling quality plants.
I am planning on low vigour vines planted close together for more character, less yield probably about 60% of norm. I won't be getting them until spring of next year. Gives me more time to prep my space and let it weather a bit and let them take care of my babies the first year, I'll end up with a stronger plantand not quite as vigorous that first year.
I wish I didn't have to fence everything in from the deer...

 

[mdbarb]

Forgot to mention - I'll be going to the "Managing the small vineyard" class at UC Davis this Saturday. I've heard many good things about this class. I'll report back on it.
Also there will be a Winegrowers Workshop here in Marin in March.
It seems viticulture is gaining a foothold here. There is Pacheco Vineyards - been here forever - and Mt. Tamalpais Winery is up and coming. Starry Night is a little winery out of a warehouse just around the corner although they buy their grapes up north-

 

[mdbarb]

I just came across a magazine "Winemaker"
Lot of info, ads, leadsnd links.
Their web page is ww.winemakermag.com
check it ut.

 

[mdbarb]

Yesterday's paper quotes some grape prices:
Napa $2,838 per ton AVERAGE!
Sonoma and Marin $2,155

 

[mdbarb]

I'm back from the UC Davis class and recommend it highly. There were actually people from as far away as Ohio attending.
The two instructors are farm advisor for Napa and a county in the foothills (sorry I don't have the info with me)
The program is actually split into four different classes at different times of the year with the emphasis on what is important for that time of year. This one was about prunning, planting etc. There was awealth of in in a loose leaf binder and the instructores were very patient and knowledgable. I will definetly be taking the other three classes.

 

[toddwulf]

Hey Barb, That's the same class I took last Jan and I have that same very useful binder that I add my notes and etcs. to.

I also read the article in the SacBee - Napa/Sonoma will alway's get the highest prices as it's the most cherished growing land. The article, discusses the current downside to the low end wine market which has severley impacted the San Juoaquin Valley growing region. It appears that the high end ($20+) bottle market is still OK.

There is no doubt, that there is quite a bit of new crop coming on line and being planted which will dilute the bulk market if supply continues to sag.

From what I understand, most of the bulk wine up here in Placerville (El Dorado County - Where your other teacher is the farm advisor) is purchased by the local labels for bottling. I'm going to my first Wine Grape Growers Assoc meeting on the 17th.

Talk to you later.

Todd

 

[mdbarb]

I just got back from the summer class at UC Davis. This one was about pest in the vineyard.
Again an excellent class. I came home with a ton of new information.
It was informative to see the galssy wing sharpshooter up close along with the smaples of other pest.
I highly recommend this series of classes to any one that can get to UC Davis.

 

[mdbarb]

This thread has been dormant for some time.
So have I but I just realized yesterday that winter is going to come yet again, very soon!
I have about 6000 sq. ft. I am turning into a vineyard and have been dinking around getting nothing done. Actually clearing stumps and getting rid of all the tree roots took much longer than I planned.
Anyway, it was Tuesday with a big storm coming on Thursday nite and I had 6000 ft of newly cut, baby powder soft terrace that would instantly be washed into the marsh below.
So On Wednesday I finished, as best I could, the terracing. On Thursday, with dark clouds forming, I added the fertilizers, seeded the cover crop and just before dusk, got straw spread for erosion control.
Now I guess there is nothing left to do until spring, but go inside, put my feet up, read some viticulture books and sample some of the pros best efforts with the grape.
See the following photos - terraced hillsides don't photograph too well - just picture it twice as dramatic as it looks....