Around New York... Statewide Vineyard Crop Development Update #7 October 20, 2017 Edited by Tim Martinson and Chris Gerling. Statewide (Tim Martinson)

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1 Veŕaison to Harvest Statewide Vineyard Crop Development Update #7 October 20, 2017 Edited by Tim Martinson and Chris Gerling Around New York... Statewide (Tim Martinson) After a light frost on Tuesday, October 17, this week saw more sunshine, warm days (70s) and cool nights (40s). Leaves in many blocks are still functioning, but starting to yellow and senesce in preparation for dormancy and the first real frost. Current long range forecast for Geneva shows no serious frost risk until Saturday, October 28. It has been ideal weather for harvesting grapes. This week (p. 4-9) we are down to 44 samples (from the initial 90+) as more blocks are harvested. Its down to Cabernet Franc, and Riesling (with multiple samples), Traminette and Vidal blanc, and one block each of Malbec and Merlot on Long Island. And yet, amazingly there was one Chardonnay block still unharvested. Acids on 12 remaining Riesling blocks are below or close to the 10 g/l level that seems to be an informal rule of thumb for harvest decisions, and soluble solids are only above 20 Brix in one sample vineyard. In the Cabernet Franc samples, TAs are in the 5-8 g/l range, with most soluble solids in the 20 to 22 Brix. As blocks get harvested, averages we calculate (both this years and last year) become more suspect to random fluctuations so take them with a grain of salt The last vineyards harvested tend to be outliers that are harvested late for a reason. Next week will be the final samples, and we ll follow up with a final wrap up issue in a couple of weeks. Finger Lakes (Hans Walter-Peterson) If there s a running theme to this year s harvest in the Finger Lakes, for most growers it is probably higher yields. We have been seeing signs of this for much of the season, pri- Tuesday, October 15. Clouds rising over Seneca Lake at Boundary Breaks vineyard near Lodi, NY. Photo by Tim Martinson East Seneca Lake. Tyvek-suited scarecrows watch over this Riesling vineyard on East Seneca Lake. Photo by Tim Martinson marily from higher cluster numbers due much in part to last year s sunny weather during bud formation, and to the higher than normal rainfall during the cell-division phase of berry growth, which led to the formation of larger berries. These two factors have meant that a lot of growers have been picking higher than average yields this year. In a couple of the vineyards where we have been harvesting some trials looking at different Riesling clones this week, we have been harvesting in the neighborhood of 20 lbs/vine on a fairly consistent basis. At a spacing of 9 x 6, that is equivalent to a yield of 8 tons/acre. Yields on most other varieties are also up, so this is not about something that is unique to Riesling this year. Conditions have just lined up this year for the vines to carry a large crop of grapes. Page 1

2 Before those who still cling to the low yield = high quality myth have a conniption, let me also say that while there is a large crop out there, there have also been a lot of leaves and shoots on those vines to balance out that larger crop. It is true that brix have been slower to rise and acids a bit slower to fall this year, and high yields are likely playing at least a part in that phenomenon. In those vineyards that I ve seen with fairly heavy crops of whatever variety though, the vines do not appear stunted or to be under a great deal of stress. Higher yields can be great news for a grower, especially after the past couple of years when yields were down as vineyards were still recuperating from winter injury. However, when everybody has lots of grapes, the challenge then becomes finding a home for all of that fruit. The NY Grape & Wine Classifieds have been busy this fall. There s still time left for fruit to find a home, but there are only so many tanks, bins, tubs and carboys available. Much of the harvest activity in the Finger Lakes has centered around some of the last loads of Concord (Thursday was the end of Constellation s Concord season) and the rush to start bringing in the bulk of this year s (big) Riesling crop. Loads from Lemberger and some Cabernet Franc blocks have been arriving at crush pads around the region as well. Next week will see a lot more of the region s Riesling and Cab Franc crop being harvested, as well as some of the later season hybrids like Traminette and Vidal. Long Island (Alice Wise) The last blocks of Chardonnay came off this week. Also being harvested are the first blocks of Merlot and other reds for table wine. We expect to start on reds in the Cornell research vineyard early next week. Across the board Brix are moderate, generally 20-21, and acids are moderate to low, depending on yield. We ve learned from years past that these numbers are not undesirable, just different from the seasons with 23 Brix fruit. In tasting berries in the vineyard, there is definitely balance among sugars, acids and flavors. The difference is that in seasons like this, flavors tend to be more nuanced, subtle and minerally. This is the beauty and the challenge of growing grapes in the northeast, coaxing out high quality wines from seasons with varying weather. In the research vineyard, this season was a reminder that we are still on the viticulture learning curve. Equipment issues in July led to a delay in hedging of the canopy. This proved to be a crucial mistake, as downy mildew (DM) became firmly established. Subsequent wet weather and a preponderance of dewy mornings stoked the infections. We hedged repeatedly Finger Lakes. Harvest always goes smoother with good help, like Gillian Trimber and John Kurtz (above), and also Ming-Yi Chou and Anne Kearney, graduate students with Justine Vanden Heuvel, who provided invaluable help with picking vineyard trials this week. Photo by Hans Walter-Peterson and kept up with the fungicide protection. This tamed the infections but did not eradicate them. Interestingly, the upper 1/3 of Chardonnay canopies were most affected. In conversations with vineyard managers, some had no problem with DM control. For others, it was a challenge and the varieties with DM varied. Why was DM an issue for some growers and not others? The same reasons as in any other fungal outbreak a combination of factors including but not limited to inherent susceptibility of the variety/clone; site and air drainage; timely canopy management; timely and well-applied fungicides; and the possibility of resistant fungal strains. For example, many have noted the slippage of phosphorous acid products. While there may very well be some degree of resistance, it is likely that we are expecting a lot from this suite of products. Due to their post-infection capabilities, phos acids tend to be one of the tools used to control existing infections. It is hard for any product to completely eradicate an outbreak, particularly with dense canopies and/or conducive weather as complicating factors. It is a reminder that control of diseases like downy mildew requires a delicate balance of rotating fungicides, good canopy management and cooperation from Mother Nature. Lake Erie (Tim Weigle) Excellent ripening conditions continue in the Lake Erie region as we escaped the frost predicted earlier in the week. The storm that pounded Michigan with 10-inches of rain and heavy winds cruised through our area on Sunday afternoon providing about a half inch of rain across the region. Harvest at CLEREL is Page 2

3 winding up with Riesling and Traminette going to the winemakers. The warm temperatures and sunshine have allowed Concord harvest to proceed at full speed as even vineyards in an over-crop situation have been able to make minimum sugars. The extended weather forecast is for the region to return to more seasonal temperatures next week with increased chances of rain. We expect Concord harvest to be finishing up by the end of the month. Hudson Valley and Champlain (Jim Meyers) "We can make culture and journalism into second-rate activities and spend centuries remixing the detritus of the 1960s and other eras from before individual creativity went out of fashion. Or we can believe in ourselves. By chance, it might turn out we are real." -- Jaron Lanier Harvest has ended in northern New York and the capital district and the Hudson Valley is likely to bring in the last of the Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon next week. Downy mildew has reappeared in some vineyards, both in previously harvested and unharvested vines. Given the high levels of downy and powdery mildew this year, postharvest management should not be overlooked. In the few remaining blocks of fruit, phosphorous acid (e.g. ProPhyt and Phostrol) can help with last minute downy treatment, offering solid efficacy and a zero day preharvest interval. However, phosphorous acid is classified as having moderate resistance risk and use of resistance prone fungicides are not recommended late in the season. 'Moderate' risk is not high risk, but it is also not low risk. There are several recommended post harvest sprays for downy mildew that are all classified as being low risk for resistance, but none are suitable for use so close to harvest. The risks of encouraging resistance should be weighed against any expected benefits of leaving the fruit hang for an extra week on the vine. Where fruit has been harvested and leaves are still functioning, post harvest treatment for downy and powdery mildew can both help the vine to prepare for winter and reduce disease innoculum left on the vineyard floor after the leaves drop. Mildews can overwinter in leaf litter and, as they rot to form detritus, can be transferred to surface soil as they are consumed by soil dwelling organisms. Copper, phthalimides (e.g. Captan and Captec), and ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (e.g. Dithane, Manzate Pro-Stick, and Penncozeb) are recommended for postharvest downy mildew treatment, although copper could potentially cause injury now that the weather is cooling. For powdery post harvest treatment, recommended applications include sulfur or petroleum oil (e.g. JMS Stylet Oil and Purespray Green). Page 3

4 Fruit Composition Report - 10/16/2017 Samples reported here were collected on Monday, October 16 Where appropriate, sample data from 2016, averaged over all sites is included. Tables from 2016 are archived at Next samples will be collected on Monday October 16. No YAN measurements this week.. Aromella Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva thinned Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva unthinned Average 10/16/ Prev. Average 10/9/ Baco Noir Hudson Valley 9/18/2017 HARVEST Final Sample 9/11/2017 Southwest HV Cabernet Franc Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 E. Seneca Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 W. Seneca Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Cayuga Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Wayne County Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Lansing Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka Hudson Valley 10/16/2017 Southwest HV HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/16/2017 East Central HV Long Island 10/16/2017 LI Long Island 10/16/2017 LI-09 HARVEST Average 10/16/ Prev. Sample 10/9/ Average 10/17/ Catawba Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka Prev Sample 10/9/2017 Keuka Sample 10/17/ Cayuga White Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Dresden HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Cayuga HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Ithaca HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Keuka HARVEST 17 Final Sample 10/2/ Final Sample 9/19/2016 Dresden Page 4

5 Chardonnay Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Cayuga HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 W. Seneca Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Lansing HARVEST Long Island 10/16/2017 LI-03 HARVEST Prev. Sample 10/9/ Final Sample 9/26/ Concord Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 W. Canandaigua Lake Erie 10/16/2017 Portland HARVEST Lake Erie 10/16/2017 Fredonia HARVEST Average 10/16/ Prev Sample 10/9/ Final Sample 10/3/ Corot Noir Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva thinned Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva unthinned Average 10/16/ Prev Sample 10/9/ Sample 9/26/2016 Dresden Frontenac Hudson Valley 9/25/2017 Northeast HV HARVEST Thousand Islands 9/25/2017 Clayton-Rake/LR HARVEST 17 Final. Average 9/25/ Final Sample 9/26/ Gruner Veltliner Finger Lakes 9/25/2017 HARVEST 17 Final Sample 9/25/2017 Dresden Final Sample 9/6/2016 Dresden La Crescent Champlain 10/2/2017 Central Champlain HARVEST Thousand Islands 10/2/2017 HARVEST Champlain 10/2/2017 Northern Champlain HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/2/2017 Northwest HV HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 Geneva thinned HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 Geneva unthinned HARVEST 17 Final Sample 10/2/ Final Sample 9/12/ Page 5

6 Lemberger Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden Average 10/16/ Prev. Average 10/9/ Final Sample 10/3/ Malbec Long Island 10/16/2017 LI Prev Sample 10/9/2017 LI Sample 10/17/ Marechal Foch Hudson Valley 17 Final Sample 10/2/2017 Northeast HV Marquette Champlain 10/9/2017 Northern Champlain HARVEST Champlain 10/9/2017 Central Champlain HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Dresden HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Ithaca HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Keuka HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/9/2017 Northeast HV HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/9/2017 Northwest HV HARVEST Lake Erie 10/9/2017 Fredonia HARVEST Thousand Islands 10/9/2017 Clayton HARVEST 17 Final Average 10/2/ Final Average 9/19/ Merlot Hudson Valley 10/16/2017 East Central HV HARVEST Long Island 10/16/2017 LI Long Island 10/16/2017 LI-10 HARVEST Average 10/16/ Prev Sample 10/9/ Average 10/17/ Niagara Lake Erie 9/18/2017 HARVEST 17 Final Sample 9/11/2017 Portland Final Sample 9/12/2016 Portland Page 6

7 Noiret Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Wayne County Prev Sample 10/9/2017 Wayne County Final Sample 9/12/ Pinot Noir Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 W. Cayuga HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 E. Seneca HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Ontario HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/9/2017 Southwest HV HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/9/2017 East Central HV HARVEST 17 Final Sample 10/2/ Final Sample 9/26/ Riesling Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 W. Seneca Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 E. Seneca Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 CL 90 Cayuga Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 W. Canandaigua Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 E. Seneca cl Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 E. Seneca cl Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 E. Seneca cl Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Wayne County Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Lansing Hudson Valley 10/16/2017 Southwest HV Hudson Valley 10/16/2017 East Central HV Lake Erie 10/16/2017 Portland HARVEST Long Island 10/16/2017 LI-01 HARVEST Average 10/16/ Prev Sample 10/9/ Sample 10/17/ Sauvignon Blanc Long Island 9/25/2017 LI-02 HARVEST 17 Final Sample 9/18/2017 LI Final Sample 9/12/2016 LI Seyval Blanc Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 Cayuga HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/2/2017 Southwest HV HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/2/2017 East Central HV HARVEST Hudson Valley 10/2/2017 East Central HV HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 Cayuga HARVEST 17 Final Sample 9/18/ Final Sample 9/12/ Page 7

8 St Croix Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Geneva thinned HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Geneva unthinned HARVEST 17 Final Sample 10/2/ Final Sample 9/12/2016 Geneva Traminette Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Keuka Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Cornell Orchards Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva thinned Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Geneva unthinned Average 10/16/ Prev Sample 10/9/ Final Sample 10/10/ Valvin Muscat Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Geneva unthinned Finger Lakes 10/9/2017 Geneva thinned Average Prev Sample 10/9/ Vidal Blanc Finger Lakes 10/16/2017 Dresden Prev Sample 10/9/2017 Dresden Final Sample 10/17/2016 Dresden Vignoles Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 VSP Keuka HARVEST Finger Lakes 10/2/2017 W. Seneca HARVEST 17 Final Sample 9/25/ Final Sample 9/19/ Page 8

9 Insects Feeding on Clusters at NYSAES After Harvest at the Riesling block on the Loomis Farm Wednesday, October 18. I went out to the Loomis farm, where we harvested most (but not all) of the fruit in our Riesling block. The remaining fruit is a very concentrated food sourve for several insects, who are taking advantage of this resourse. From left: Honeybees, Hornets, Drosophila fruit flies, a Wasp, and unidentified species of flies. Photos by Tim Martinson Senescing leaves. As fall progresses, leaves are senescing normally, yellowing from shoot base to shoot tip. Photo by Tim Martinson 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 Copyright 2017 Cornell University 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 regarding 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. Page 9