Gamay in 6b

[Uvabombon]

Edit: i meant to write 5b!!
Hello!

Located in 5b area of NH. Very interested in planting Gamay. Does anyone have experience growing Gamay in cold climates? Both good or bad.

Thank you and very happy to have found this community.

 

[winemaker81]

Welcome to WMT!

I searched on Zone 6 and grapes ... the bad news is it's all French-American hybrids. Indications are Vinifera won't grow well, if at all.

Although someone may point out where I'm wrong, your best choice for Gamay is to purchase grapes through Musto.

 

[ChuckD]

Gamay is listed as a zone 7 grape. If you can plant them against a rock wall or building with southern exposure you may have a microclimate that would allow it… so long as you can cover the vines when an early frost threatens.

If you are serious about growing your own grapes for wine, start exploring local vineyards to see what can be made with northern hybrids. You may be surprised.

 

[GSMChris]

I’m in 9a and had cold temperature damage last year on my grenache grapes. 5b seems pretty extreme unless you are willing to take extreme measures.

 

[VinesnBines]

I’m in 6b and vinifera is a real challenge. The local commercial vineyard, much lower elevation and 25 miles south; their only reds are Petit Verdot, Cab Franc and Merlot.

I raise killer hybrids. My Chambourcin and Marchel Foch have a lot of the Gamay flavors, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, dark cherry. The Foch can have a real earthy flavor and black pepper notes.

Love what you love. Like Chris says, give Gamay a try but go with your eyes wide open and prepare.

As an analogy, I can grow fig trees in 6b but never have fruit. I dug up suckers and transplanted in 7a. I have killer figs at my property in 7a and still nothing from the mother fig in 6b.

 

[CTDrew]

I'm in 6b Connecticut and I grow cab franc just fine. I know they grow gamay in the Hudson Valley and it's at least a half zone colder there than my area. Try some vines and see how it goes for you.

 

[Rice_Guy]

welcome to WMT

 

[Uvabombon]

Thanks for the responses everyone. What’s the best source for hardiness zones and varietals? When I do a general google search, I get a range of answers.

 

[VinesnBines]

Double A Vineyards gives zone hardiness on their website.

 

[ChuckD]

Yep. The commercial vine suppliers typically have the best growing info for their vines. Especially those specialized in vineyards. The burpee catalog types… not so much.

 

[David Violante]

Welcome to WMT!

 

[Rice_Guy]

The hybrid release info from the breeder / U of Minnesota has heartiness data. To generate this a numbered pre release variety is grown in several locations and a weather station collects data. This translates into variety 123 did not survive -20 at LaCrosse or Minneapolis but survived -16 in madison and -12 along Lake Michigan.

However every year is different. If the plant has “hardened off” / been exposed to progressively lower temperatures it survives better than if a cold front suddenly pushes the plant to -16 in mid December. If there is a February warm spell which encourages bud break followed by -16 in the last week of February the vine won’t survive as well. Late bud break is a trait that contributes to temperature resistance.

 

[countygrapeguy]

Some Gamay is grown north of you in Quebec, and west of you in Eastern Ontario which should both be in the same zone as you, however in both of those locations it's definitely grown with winter protection (either buried or covered with thermal blankets). There's a chance it might not fully ripen in all years if you're getting early fall frosts, I believe it's picked in mid-late October in my area of Ontario.

Also you'll need a comprehensive and frequent spraying program.

 

[tullamore]

Edit: i meant to write 5b!!
Hello!

Located in 5b area of NH. Very interested in planting Gamay. Does anyone have experience growing Gamay in cold climates? Both good or bad.

Thank you and very happy to have found this community.

i buy Gamay from Watsons Vineyard - Niagara on the Lake ,in Ontario - it does very well in this area - i'm never disappointed with their quality
They had Gamay for many years - any questions do call them or send them an email Watsons.ca
the owner is Kevin -