Champlain Valley - Grapemans' vineyard - Planting to small winery

[grapeman]

Awesome, so if things stay on this track does that mean an earlier picking or do you try for higher Brix?

At this point Wade, any guess would be just that. I hope for anearlier picking of higher sugar, lower acid grapes.

 

[grapeman]

Wow sounds busier then a dairy farmer

Believe me there is no comparison- a dairy farmer without help is much worse off.

 

[ibglowin]

Yea, thank goodness you don't have to do twice a day milkings as well!

 

[grapeman]

Yea, thank goodness you don't have to do twice a day milkings as well!

Nope, with grapes and wine you only do a glass or two drinking!

 

[ibglowin]

"Hazards" of the occupation I suppose!

 

[AlFulchino]

Rich...let me rephrase...do you have any concerns about the physical force of any spray hitting and dislodging any elements havig to do w polination and preventing its success....i'e a spray knocking pollen away from the flower so that it never completes pollination

 

[grapeman]

I certainly have never thought of that or worried about it Al. If anything I would think it would aid pollination of grapes since the pollen is spread by gravity and wind anyways and does not rely on bees or other insects. I do try to avoid spraying like I said during bloom so I don't contaminate insects tha might be visiting. Maybe you can do a study on the effects of it.

 

[AlFulchino]

well it was a question i have always had in my mind an dthought i would run it by you...it *seems* that a forcible spray...heavy heavy rain..could diminish a proper pollen spread

 

[grapeman]

I am out in the vineyard every day. I went out this evening after another third of an inch of rain today. We have gotten as much in 3 days now as all of last month. WOW is all I can say. I have shoots reaching 3 to 5 feet now and bloom in full force. I moved catch wires this evening and they were HEAVY, but they did not snap many shoots. I made the executive decision to stay home tomorrow and work in the vineyard for the next three days doing training and canopy management duties. My site is starting to show the potential I have seen in it for grapes. The last two years have been so wet and cloudy that it has negated the self sutaining heat engine of the coastalpine plains I am on. The surrounding forest keeps the sun and heat in on a normal year and generates heat typically 5-15 degrees warmer than other areas in the region. The day last week other spots recorded 85-88 degrees at, I saw the temp up to 104.7 in the afternoon. Yesterday I had a high of 89 degrees in the vineyard and 75 in the shade at the house.


I know the heat has my vines a good week ahead of those at Willsboro which has run almost two weeks ahead of mine for the last two years. Should be interesting to see if the trends continue.

 

[Wade E]

Wow, you saw those temps up there? Do you wear an air conditioned space suit for those days?

 

[grapeman]

Wade I saw that temp, sitting in my air-conditioned office that day! I'm overworked, not stupid!

 

[grapeman]

OK so that you all don't think I am exagerating with the growth and bloom, here are a few pics.

 

[dragonmaster42]

And to think a few weeks ago, the buds were barely swelling. Looking awesome!

 

[AlFulchino]

i saw a weed and some suckers...get back out there!

 

[Wade E]

How are my currants doing that we missed? Looking like its getting pretty vigorous over there!

 

[grapeman]

Wade I replanted the area the currants were in, so I dug them all out (the leftover small ones) and threw them away into the mail to one of your neighbors to the northeast. I assume they are happily growing along in nursery pots to get a bit bigger. I didn't want to have to water those suckers this year in pots myself and this other guy really wanted some

 

[uavwmn]

Beautiful, Appleman!!! How do you keep the deer out? Do they eat the leaves or fruit??

 

[grapeman]

I don't keep the deer out. There is enough other feed for them that they pretty much leave the vines alone. An occasional venison dinner helps also.

 

[grapeman]

As of this AM we are at over 2.5 inches of rain for the month of June- 1.5 inches ahead of last year which was one of the wettest on record at 4.75 inches by the end of the month. After a fair day today, rain over the weekend again- here we go again!


On another note, there was an article in Growing Magazine. It was originally going to be in last months issue, but was in June instead. A bit more publicity. If only I can get more after I actually open for business.
http://www.growingmagazine.com/article.php?id=5446

 

[ibglowin]

Oh man,

You better put a sign up saying "wine NOT for sale, GO AWAY!

Very nice piece.