45 Years Perspective on Co-Evolution of the Michigan s Grape & Wine Industries & MSU Grape & Wine Research and Outreach

Transcription

1 45 Years Perspective on Co-Evolution of the Michigan s Grape & Wine Industries & MSU Grape & Wine Research and Outreach G. Stanley Howell, Professor of Viticulture Emeritus Department of Horticulture Michigan State University

2 Two: Goals of Presentation 1) To recognize the status of Michigan s early industry and to briefly comment on the challenges as research efforts were begun and expanded; 2) To suggest our potential future and the kinds of research, government and industry commitments needed to make that future possible.

3 Angelo Spinazze MSU is a university dedicated to agriculture. Why can t it provide help to Michigan s wine industry? We re agriculture too. (1970) Angelo Spinazze, Bronte Winery

4 Professional Concerns Anti-alcohol history at MSU. Stan, you re committing professional suicide if you work on wine. Enlightened Leadership: Chairs Horticulture: John Carew and Jack Kelly MSU Agriculture Experiment Station Directors: Robert Gast and Ian Gray CANR Deans: Lawrence Boger, James Anderson and Fred Poston Efforts not possible without this support

5 Situation 1969 Geography of Industry Grapes and Wine Styles Wineries in 1969

6 Concord Niagara Delaware

7 Challenges to Labrusca Based Wine Industry: 1970 a) Change in taste preferences; b) Demographic of typical MI wine purchaser

8 Tabor Hill Impact Commitment to non- Vitis labruscana Bailey varieties. Challenge the status quo In vineyard education of Stan Howell

9 Challenges for MSU Research & Outreach Efforts 1) Get the industry taken seriously by MSU administration. 2) Get industry to buy into the idea that new grape varieties could survive and make better wine. 3) Get funding support for research for industry efforts. 4) Recognize the role of experimental wine production as key to success in variety improvement. 5) Develop experimental wine production facility. 6) Determine how new variety should be trained and cropped?. 7) Educational challenge for growers already confident in their viticulture. Continues to this day

10 Warner Vineyards Provides $$ Support In 1972 Warner Vineyards provided $15,000 in support for efforts at MSU

11 Research Goals: Create a basis in sound science for rational, data driven information supportive of industry survival and growth. Based on CA & NY Models

12 Unanswered Questions vs Unquestioned Answers Unanswered Questions Unquestioned Answers The Challenge for Future Efforts. Right Path is Most Serious Issue to be Confronted.

13 Research Contributions New Varieties; Viticulture and Enology (S. Stackhouse and D. Miller and J Treloar) Cold Hardiness- (J. Wolpert and T. Mansfield) Training, Cropping Level and Rot Reduction - (T. Mansfield and R. Smithyman) Vine Balance (C. Edson and D. Miller) Spare Parts - Critical for vinifera. Rootstocks (K, Striegler) Balanced Cropping vinifera canopy Management- (J. Treloar)

14 Spartan Cellars Why? What variety of wine grape should I plant? Outreach Impact of Nate Stackhouse

15 Activities at Spartan Cellars

16 Activities at Spartan Cellars

17 Cultivar Expansion Using Resistant Mixed Species Cultivars - White Cayuga White Chardonel Seyval Traminette Vidal blanc Vignoles

18 Cultivar Expansion Using Resistant Mixed Species Cultivars - Red Baco noir Chambourcin Chancellor DeChaunac Marechal Foch

19 Expansion into NW MI

20 Industry Gets a Political Champion Senator Robert Welborn Road signs Worked with MSU, industry leaders, Republican Senator H. Gast & Democrat Gov. J. Blanchard to create Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council A time when cross aisle cooperation still worked

21 Expansion of V. vinifera Major influence by Ed O Keefe at Chateau Grand Traverse Challenging, but rewards in wine quality huge Set stage for MI fine wine quality reputation

22 Chardonnay Gewurztraminer Pinot blanc Pinot gris Riesling

23 Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot noir

24 What Does Future Hold?

25 Viticulture Future? Crystal Ball 1. 1) Pest Control: Reduced Chemical Pest Control Options 2) Climate Change and Greater Weather Variability. Winter, Spring & Growing Season. Bad enough already!! 3) Impact of Super Hardy, Super Pest Resistant Varieties 4) European Effort Responding to Green Movement. Already producing new varieties. Asian efforts also. 5) Potential value of a mixed viticulture

26 Crystal Ball 2 6) Greater specificity in site selection. GPR, selecting rootstock for specific soil condition pre-plant 7) Continuous crop assessment during growing season via drones and IR sensors 8) Increased mechanization of all aspects of grape production 9) Selection of training system based on rational criteria

27 Mixed Viticulture? Howell s Prejudices: 1) Michigan wine from Michigan grown fruit. 2) Suggests need for a mixed viticulture to insure cash flow. 3) Potential of blends and proprietary wines We have a quality reputation based on vinifera. We also produce excellent mixed cultivar blends.

28 Future for Michigan Wine Production: More wineries. Crystal Ball Vineyards and wineries expanding beyond current grape growing regions based on super cold hardy resistant varieties. Greater need for both viticulture and enology science to meet challenges of this expansion. Greater need focused on methods to maintain economic production of valuable cold tender varieties even in severely cold dormant seasons. Need within season crop adjustment to achieve desired fruit quality when season is too cool

29 Future for Michigan Wine Production: Hope Industry unity. Industry will value grape and wine science as key to rational decision-making. Recognize that past quality grape and wine scientific research has facilitated industry change and growth. Recognition that industry support is crucial for such efforts to be continued, allowing benefits to continue to accrue for the recognition, growth, and desired economic results of Michigan s fine wine industry. If we are not improving we are losing ground.

30 MSU s Gold Medal Winners In Michigan Other USA Locations International

31 MSU s Gold Medal Winners Michigan USA International J. Briggs Winemaker, Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery C. Edson Bel Lago Vineyards B. Hosmer Winemaker Chateau Chantal M. Lenz Vineyard Manager Leelanau Cellars M. Merchant - Vineyard Manager, Tabor Hill D. Miller White Pine Winery P. Murad Viticulture Technician, MSU D. Perry winemaker, G. Traverse D. Stabile- Winemaker, Mackinac Trail Winery J. Treloar J. Trees Cellar R. Usborne Vineyard Owner Benzie County K. Weirzba- Shady Lane Winery K. Gill Owner Peaceful Bend Winery, MO D. Johnson Winemaker Stone Hill Winery MO V. Pearce Viticulturist Adam Pucta Winery MO K. Striegler Past Chair Viticulture and Enology CSU Fresno, Director grower relations for Gallo Winery CA R. Smithyman Director of Viticulture Research, Ch. St. Michelle WA D Wampler Enologist WA J. Wolpert Past Chair UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology and Extension Viticulturist Emeritus L. Clearwater Viticulture Consultant, Australia H. Escamilla- President ITESM, Mexico A. Friend Viticulture Scientist, Plant and Food Research NZ P. Petrie Research Viticulturist, Treasury Estate Australia C. Schutte Vineyard Manager South Africa C. Vasconcelos- Assoc Professor of Viticulture, Eastern Institute of Technology, NZ

32 All good science is not just done at a bench in a laboratory or at a computer terminal; and leadership is not best practiced from the seat of a truck or in a chair at a desk. SWMREC March,1998

33 Thank You Cooperators MSU Research Stations Funding

34 And Thank You

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