Exploring Mountain Muscadine Wine Grape Production

Transcription

1 Exploring Mountain Muscadine Wine Grape Production Chuck Blethen Jewel of the Blue Ridge Marketing

2 So what are grapes? There are about 15,000 varieties of grapes on the planet 2

3 Many dozens of French-American Hybrid grapes and native American grapes can be grown naturally/organically/biologically/ biodynamically in WNC 3

4 True American Grapes V. labrusca - large, attractive berries V. riparia - juicy, high sugar levels, cold hardy V. lincecumii and V. aestivalis - firm fleshed berries, exceptional resistance to disease, including Pierce s disease 4

5 What is Natural/Organic/ Biodynamic grape growing? Growing of grapes without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMOs, or growth hormones. Includes the use of integrated cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that promotes ecological balance, and biodiversity. 5

6 Manage What You Can Soil Fertility Diseases Insects Weeds Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 6

7 Managing Soil Fertility Improves Grape Nutrients Nature is non-linear: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 7

8 8

9 ph Meter ~$230 9

10 Plant tissue* ph ph 7.0 or above Greater risk of insect attack (N,P, and/or S shortage?) ph 6.0 or lower Greater risk of diseases (Ca, Mg, K, and/or Na, shortage?) *Testing leaf & stem juices using ph meter Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 10

11 Refractometer ~$80 11

12 Carbohydrate levels* in cells of vines 8 - Poor 12 - Average 16 - Good 20 - Excellent *Testing leaf & stem juices using refractometer/brix scale Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 12

13 Visual Indications Of Deficiencies Nitrogen - Low nitrogen causes a pale green coloration. Iron - The newest growth is yellower for iron. In addition, iron deficiency, if not too deficient, will have green veins in the leaves with yellowness in between the veins. Manganese - similar to iron, the width of the green veins is greater. Phosphorus - causes slow, weak growth. Newer leaves may be dark green while the older leaves have a purple pigmentation. Potassium - Potassium deficient plants are sensitive to disease infestation. Older leaves will be as if they had been burned along the edges, a deficiency known as "scorch." Calcium - The growing tips of plants turn brown and die; Leaves curl and their margins turn brown with newly emerging leaves sticking together at the margins, leaving the expanded leaves shredded on their edges. Zinc - Zinc deficiency causes a chlorosis of the interveinal areas of new leaves. The chlorosis is mosaic. With increasing severity of deficiency, growth is stunted and leaves die and abscise. Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 13

14 Disease Management SAR (Systemic Acquired Resistance) Courtesy: University of Arizona 14

15 Disease Management SAR (Systemic Acquired Resistance) Courtesy: The Delledonne lab, Dipartimento Scientifico e Tecnologico, Agro-Biotechnology Faculty of University of Verona, Italy 15

16 Organic Disease & Pest Control Products Surround AQ-10 Champion WP Trilogy Phyta-Guard Patchouli Oil (EC) White Vinegar Lime Sulphur Solution Milstop Serenade Sonota Tea Tree Oil Sodium Bicarbonate Netting 12 gauge shotgun 16

17 Organic Pesticides - Home Brew for Very severe infestation 5 parts Neem Oil 5 Parts Liquid Detergent 1 Part horse tail tea Mix in 10 parts water, beat until dirty white Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 17

18 Teas - Home Brewed Stinging nettle Mare s tail/horse tail Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 18

19 Weed Management Mulching with tree bark or chipped wood is most effective weed control for grapes in WNC 19

20 Mulch Cost Ground up hay = $0.09/pound* Ground up straw = $0.08/pound* Sawdust = $0.10 pound* Corn stover = $0.0107/pound* Tree mulch = free from power companies *including equipment, fuel, labor & maintenance Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 20

21 Acetic Acid 5%, 10%, 30% Non-Selective Grasses & Broadleaves Use Surfactant Repeat often as needed Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 21

22 Acetic Acid Cost Mixed in 50 gallons of water/ acre 5% mix = $ % mix = $ % mix = $34.25 *Mix includes: 4 oz sticker & 1 quart molasses & 1 quart Calcium Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 22

23 Cost per Year in Iowa vineyard (1st Crop) Organic vs. Conventional $29/88 per acre $21.50 per acre + s to Soil Food Web + Food for microbes + Minerals + Non-Toxic None Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 23

24 Other pests Bird netting Deer fencing (electrical, 3 dimensional, 3 wires, solar powered, 7.6 feet high woven fence) Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 24

25 Estimated Organic Hybrid Grape Vineyard Construction Cost per Vine 10 x 14 foot spacing (~400 vines) with post 22 feet GDC and VSP training system ~ $37/per vine for 1st year only Insect & Disease Control 3rd year production from vines ~ $0.88 per vine spray cost only (18 sprayings) Growing Organic Hybrid Grapes in Iowa Costs ~ 20% more money invested over conventional growing Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 25

26 Work with the soil web food chain Measure physiological features of plants Be proactive, not reactive Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 26

27 Good Soil + Good Grapes = Good Wine Source: Charlie Caldwell, Black Squirrel Vineyard 27

28 French-American Hybrid Wine/TableGrapes for WNC AURORE - w BACO NOIR - r CHAMBOURCIN (NOIR) - r CHANCELLOR (NOIR) - r CHELOIS - r DE CHAUNAC - r ISABELLA - r LANDOT - r LEON MILLOT - r MARECHAL FOCH - r RAVAT (VIGNOLES) - w RAVAT NOIR - r SEYVAL BLANC - w VERDELET - w VIDAL BLANC - w VILLARD BLANC - w pounds/vine 28

29 Hybrid (Seedless) Table Grapes for WNC Canadice red grape Himrod white grape Interlachen green-gold grape Jupiter blue grape Lakemont white grape Mars blue grape Reliance red grape Vanessa red grape Venus black grape pounds/vine 29

30 Native American Wine/TableGrapes for WNC AMERICA - r BETA - r BLUEBELL - r CAMPBELL EARLY - r CATAWBA - r CAYUGA - w CENTURY I - r CLINTON* - r CONCORD - r DELAWARE - r DUTCHESS - w EDELWEISS* - w ESPRIT - w FRONTENAC - r GOFF# - r IVAN - r LaCROSS - w LOUISE SWENSON - w MARECHAL FOCH - r MOUNTAIN MUSCADINE* - r&w NEW YORK MUSCAT - w NIAGARA - w NORTON (a.k.a Cynthiana)* - r ONTARIO - w PRAIRIE STAR - w PRICE - r STEUBEN - r SWENSON RED - r SWENSON WHITE - w pounds/vine 30

31 Two year-old Niagara 31

32 5 Minute Intermission 32

33 Grape Pollination Cultivated hot-weather muscadines have plants of two types: vines producing imperfect (pistillate) flowers (only female parts or fertile) and plants producing perfect flowers (both male and female parts or self-fertile). Imperfect-flowered muscadines require a perfect-flowered plant for pollination. One vine of a perfect-flowered variety can pollinate eight surrounding pistillate plants. Within a row, plant 3:1 (pistillate to perfect). 33

34 Grape Flowers 34

35 Grape Flower Anatomy Reproductive Organs Stamens composed of: Filament Anther Pollen grains Stigma composed of: Pollen tube Sperm Embryo sac Egg 35

36 Grape Flowers Stamen Pedicel Male flower Photo courtesy Cornell University 36

37 Grape Flowers Stigma Pedicel Female flower Photo courtesy Cornell University 37

38 Grape Flowers Perfect flower Pedicel Photo courtesy Cornell University 38

39 Grape Flowers Perfect flower germination requires optimum temps 39

40 Mature Grape Berry 40

41 Mountain Muscadines are Different Grapes grow on this year s canes Average ripe fruit is 16 Brix (~16% sugar) No spraying of any kind needed - less labor Weed control by mulching 41

42 Mountain Muscadines Disease free Cold-Hardy & High-Altitude Conditioned Established Market Recognition Unique Flavor and Aroma Pies, juice, table grapes, jams, preserves, wine, & nutraceuticals 42

43 Mountain Muscadines Mountain Muscadines July 14, unsprayed, unpruned 43

44 Mountain Muscadines Mountain Muscadines August 28, unsprayed, unpruned 44

45 Mountain Muscadines - 10 Brix Mountain Muscadines Sept 13th - unsprayed, unpruned 45

46 Mountain Muscadines -14 Brix Ripe Mountain Muscadines Oct 22, 2009, two days after the first frost - unsprayed, unpruned 46

47 Mountain Muscadines in the Vineyard 47

48 Mountain Muscadines in the Vineyard 48

49 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Select a vigorous shoot Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 49

50 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Remove the lower leaves Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 50

51 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Cut shoot into node sections Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 51

52 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Place cuttings in water Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 52

53 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Insert the cutting into a pine bark blue-berry propagation mix (approximately 1:1:1 peat:sand:bark) Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 53

54 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation The cutting bed. Use emitters to spray for 10 seconds every 10 minutes for 6 to 10 weeks Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 54

55 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Potted plants in September of the year they were cut Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 55

56 Mountain Muscadines - Propagation Roots are well developed by September, ready to be heeled-in in a protected outdoor bed, transferred to pots, or stored bare-root in moist sawdust at 40-45F to await planting in the Spring Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 56

57 Mountain Muscadines - Alternate Propagation Method Root layering: Bend a healthy cane down to the ground. Cover a portion of it with dirt Leave the tip exposed. Use a rock to hold it in place. 57

58 Mountain Muscadines - Alternate Propagation Method Greenwood Cuttings in Terrarium: Maintain a 86 F - 100% humidity propagation chamber for two weeks 58

59 Mountain Muscadines - Alternate Propagation Method Air layering: Cut off bottom of plastic soda bottle Leave cane attached to parent vine Thread growing point through cut end of bottle and out through cap-end opening Use pocketknife to scrape down one side of cane to cambium along the section that will be submerged in propagation mix Fill bottle with pine bark propagation mix (1:1:1 mix of peat:sand:bark) Wet with room temperature water Water as needed Photos courtesy Marjorie Rayburn 59

60 Mountain Muscadines - A propagation method that DOES NOT work Hardwood cuttings; Using dormant hardwood cuttings to propagate muscadines will not work. The best success rate is ~1% under ideal conditions. 60

61 Mountain Muscadines Trellis Wire: 9 or 10 gage High-Tensile Fence Wire (7# of fruit per foot of wire) 61

62 Mountain Muscadines - Training 62

63 Mountain Muscadines - Winter Pruning Domesticated Muscadine production: Female vines: pounds of fruit per vine Self-Fertile vines: pounds of fruit per vine 63

64 Mountain Muscadines Fewer vines per acre vs 450 to 550 Average cost for most grape vines per acre for conventional vineyard: vines x $10 = $4500-$5500 Average cost for vines per acre for Mountain Muscadine vineyard: 130 vines x $15 = $

65 Mountain Muscadines - Harvest Hybrid grape/american winegrape production: vines/acre 16 pounds per vine = tons/acre Domesticated Muscadine production: 130 vines/acre Female vines: pounds of fruit per vine Self-Fertile vines: pounds of fruit per vine pounds per vine = tons/acre 65

66 Mountain Muscadines as Wine Grapes Hybrid grape/american wine grape production: 4 tons/acre x $1500/ton = $6,000/acre Domesticated Muscadine wine production: 4.8 tons/acre x $1500/ton = $7,200/acre 66

67 Mountain Muscadines as Wine Hybrid grape/american wine grape production: 4 tons/acre x 145 gallons/ton = 580 gallons 580 gallons = 2900 bottles = 241 cases/acre 241 cases x $120/case = $28,920/acre Domesticated Muscadine wine production: 4.8 tons/acre x 145 gallons/ton = 696 gallons 696 gallons = 3480 bottles = 290 cases/acre 290 cases x $120/case = $34,800/acre 67

68 Mountain Muscadines as Table grapes Hybrid grape/american table grape production: 4 tons/acre from 500 vines/acre /pound = $11,120 - $23,920/acre Domesticated Muscadine table grape production: 4.8 tons/acre from 130 vines/acre 3.99/pound = $38,304/acre 68

69 Mountain Muscadine Grapes! 69

70 Exploring Mountain Muscadine Wine Grape Production Chuck Blethen Jewel of the Blue Ridge Marketing

71 Measuring Sustainability Winery ecological and environmental sustainability usually includes some of the following practices: LEED certification Use of eco-friendly building materials Earth-sheltered buildings Green roofs Building orientation/insulation Brise soleil (a sun baffle of louvers outside the windows or extending over the entire surface of a building) or solar blocks Alternative energy, including geothermal, solar and wind Energy/heat capture and recovery CO 2 capture Natural lighting and venting Rainwater collection Water recycling Materials recycling 71

72 Measuring Sustainability As an industry, we need to quantify our ecological and environmental sustainability activities; otherwise, we may be guilty of contributing to the cascade of green-washing evident in our society. Wine volume per ton of grapes Total energy consumed per ton produced Water consumed per volume of wine produced Personnel hours per ton Wastewater chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand per ton 72

73 Economic Sustainability Economic sustainability has several aspects, including sound decision-making, technology and education, and a realistic understanding of product value. The following is but a partial list of activities being conducted world-wide to the benefit of all: Investigate societal attitudes towards the consumption of wine and determine potential effects on patterns of consumption. Develop and demonstrate links between consumers' sensory preferences and measurable wine attributes related to important wine styles, using consumers' language. Determine whether and how price points and sales are related to sensory attributes. Enhance the preparation and updating of analyses of regulatory and other market access barriers in key markets for the wine industry. Develop tools which measure wine attributes of relevance for consumer preferences. Adapt winemaking processes to achieve these attributes. 73

74 Economic Sustainability (cont.) Create and adopt new technologies including those from other industries that will continuously improve the productivity of the winemaking process and the quality of wine. Explore new ways of using yeasts, bacteria and enzymes to better transform valuable grape precursors into the sensory wine attributes of high consumer preference. Develop tools which measure grape attributes of relevance for consumer wine preferences. Improve grape harvesting and delivery processes to preserve these attributes. Determine opportunities to measure the industry's environmental footprint, and identify opportunities to improve environmental management, for example with respect to biodiversity, water use efficiency, and waste management. The link between economic sustainability and environmental sustainability will strengthen only through technology, and the implementation of technology through education. 74