Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D. Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit Western MD Research & Education Center 18330 Keedysville Road Keedysville, MD 21756-1104 301-432-2767 ext. 344; Fax 301-432-4089 jfiola@umd.edu http://extension.umd.edu/smallfruit
Recommended Winegrape Varieties for Diverse Regions of Maryland Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D. Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit University of Maryland Extension
The Wine is Made in the Vineyard!
General considerations Climate/Variety interaction critical Consistent production at your site Consistently high quality at your site Cold Hardiness Disease and pest pressure Temperature during ripening (cool nights) Ripe all or majority years!! Demand by existing wineries Demand by consuming public (winery) Crop value consistently exceeds cost of production
Grape Varieties Ripe grapes
Preferred conditions for producing high quality grapes: Moderate winters and limited frosts Preferably minimums >0 o F Well drained, low fertility soil Warm sunny days during ripening Preferably maximums <90 o F Cool nights during ripening Preferably <65 o F Limited precipitation Veraison to harvest
Variety choices: Know your site! -Cold! -Growing season
UME R&D Vineyard Locations WMREC - Keedysville Golden Run Vineyard Sudlersville CMREC Upper Marlboro WyeREC - Queenstown Summerseat Lusby LESREC - Salisbury
Relative variety ripening
General consideration of vinifera relative to other species/hybrids Vinifera must be grafted to pest-tolerant rootstock As a group, vinifera are more susceptible to fungal and certain other pathogens vinifera are more susceptible to cold injury Native American spp > hybrids > V. vinifera vinifera grape prices are roughly twice that of hybrid or American spp. of grape.
Grape Prices per Ton New York 2006 Cab Sauvignon - $1813 Cabernet Franc - $1657 Pinot Noir - $1654 Chardonnay - $1332 Riesling - $1582 Vidal blanc - $ 650 Traminette - $1049 Chambourcin - $ 875 Virginia 2005 Cab Sauvignon $1437 Cabernet Franc $1447 Merlot - $1567 Chardonnay $1372 Viognier $1639 Vidal blanc $ 837 Traminette $ 940 Norton - $1485
Pest Resistant Varieties Disease tolerant hybrids
Vinifera and Hybrids Must be grafted to pest tolerant rootstock C3309 101-14 Riparia Gloire Phylloxera Not grafted Grafted Chardonel
Rootstock Selection Phyloxera resistant Vigor management (RG) Depth of rooting Fit to specific soil types Recommended C3309 101-14 Riparia Gloire C3309 Riparia Gloire
Strengths: Cayuga White (hybrid) Very good cold hardiness Very high yields Excellent disease resistance Versatile Weaknesses: Over-cropping Labrusca character when ripe Name!
Vidal Blanc (hybrid) Strengths: Good cold hardiness High yields Versatile work horse Late bud break Good bunch rot resistance Weaknesses: Over cropping Susceptible to Downy Mildew Susceptible to tomato & tobacco ringspot viruses Must graft to rootstock
Seyval Blanc Strengths: Good cold hardiness Good yields Versatile - blending Weaknesses: Over cropping Weak establishment Graft/thin Sour rot (hybrid)
Chardonel ( Seyval Blanc x Chardonnay hybrid ) Strengths: Good cold hardiness Good heat tolerance Good disease resistance Versatile Weaknesses: Over cropping? Ripe rots? Limited local testing Phylloxera susceptible
Traminette ( Gewürztraminer hybrid) Strengths: Good yields Excellent fruit quality Good cold hardiness Good disease resistance High demand Weaknesses: Vigor Predation!
Hardy Russian Varieties Strengths: Excellent cold hardiness Good disease resistance Good wine quality Aromatic Germanic/Muscat Great mouth feel Quality in heat WyeREC Weaknesses: Limited commercial experience Names/numbers
Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio (vinifera) Strengths: Adaptable cultivar Fair cold hardiness Early harvest Consumer recognition Weaknesses: Susceptible to botrytis Tight clusters Ripen in heat?
Chardonnay (vinifera) Strengths: Adaptable cultivar High fruit quality - recognition Good Yields (4 t/a) Fair cold hardiness Clones available Weaknesses: Early bud break - frost Susceptible to botrytis, PM, DM, and GY
Strengths: Hardiness? Good yields High quality Early ripening Demand Weaknesses: Variable by site Early ripening Over-cropping Tight clusters Sauvignon Blanc Susceptible bunch rots??? (vinifera)
Petit Manseng (vinifera France Jurancon) Strengths: Excellent fruit quality Aromatic White Good resistance to bunch rots Good cold hardiness Good in vineyard Late season white Holds acid Weaknesses: Demand? Too late? Birds! Holds acid too much? Sweet wine only?
Chambourcin (hybrid) Strengths: High quality versatile Good cold hardiness Disease resistant Weaknesses: Late ripening Name
Norton (red V.aestivalis (American spp.) Strengths: Cold hardy Good disease resistance 2X NJ GC winner Increasing local interest Very fruity character - blend Weaknesses: Low yields Uncertain demand High ph and high TA Training system?
Strengths: High demand Consumer recognition Excellent fruit/wine quality Ripens early Weaknesses: Cold tender? Susceptible to bunch rot Merlot (red vinifera) Only best sites in North!
Cabernet Franc (vinifera) Strengths: Good demand/value/quality Good rot resistance Cold hardiness > Cab Sauvignon Clones #1 and #214 Ripens earlier that CS Later ripening Weaknesses: Occasionally poor fruit set High incidence of Leaf roll virus Herbaceous when under ripe
Petit Verdot Strengths: High yields (at Winchester) Good for blending Color, intensity (vinifera) Greater cold hardiness than Cabernet Sauvignon? Ripens with Cabernet Franc (or later?) High quality fruit, little rot Weaknesses: High acid and ph in some years Susceptible to Phomopsis? Demand rising
Barbera (vinifera) Strengths: High yields needs management Greater cold hardiness than CabSauv? Ripens with Cab Franc High quality fruit, little rot Good quality wine Color, softness Clones too early Weaknesses: High yields needs management Dis-synchronous ripening High acid Demand uncertain
Only best sites!!!!! Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (vinifera) Strengths: High demand Yields? Late bud break Good rot resistance Weaknesses: Variable ripening Consistent ripening each year Cold-tender - establishment Bunch stem necrosis
Super Hardy Hybrids Northwest or very hot?
Super Hardy Hybrids
Other varieties = N&W Variety Albariño Riesling Viognier Pinot Blanc Gewürztraminer Muscats Syrah Tannat, Touriga Tintos Teroldego Comments Spanish Rot resistant? Gaining; High demand; Cool site; Rot sensitive; Gaining rec; Ripen consistent? Nice wine; recognition? Demand? Cool site; Rot sensitive?; Fastest growing in popularity Inconsistent; Heat tolerance? DM? Good color; ripens each year Intense color and body
Other varieties = S&E Variety Albariño Viognier Petite Manseng Valvin Muscat Villard Noir Malbec Souzao Negro Amaro Tannat; Touriga; Tinto Sangiovese Syrah Comments Spanish Rot resistant? Gaining rec; Ripen consistent? Late; high acid NY62; good in heat; Disease? Hybrid; wine like PN; long season Early; Potential but cold tender? Early; intense color and fruit Promising but cold tender? DM? Good color; mid season? Inconsistent; Management? Inconsistent; Virus; DM?
SCRI Grant Improved grape and wine quality in a challenging environment http://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/alson-h-smith/grapes/viticulture/research/scri-index.html NE1020 Variety Trial National Variety Trial
White Varieties in Trial Albariño Sauvignon Blanc XX-11-57 Pinot Blanc Petite Manseng 54-36-34 Colombard Muscat Ottonel SK77-5-3 Marsanne Valvin Muscat SK77-10-69 Roussanne Malvesia Blanco SK77-12-6 Feher Gruner Veltliner XIV-1-86 Fernou Fiano 34-4-49 Arnais Viozinho Valvin Muscat Vermentino Falenghina Linae Verdelho Verdejo Vignoles Vernaccia Viognier Chardonel
Red Varieties in Trial Malbec Gamay Schiopitino Garanoir Gamaret Sagrantino Lagrein Teroldego Grenache Durif Rofosco Vespolina Petit Sirah Pinotage Montepulciano Aleatico Souzao Corvina Sangiovese Barbera Graciano Touriga Dolcetto Kozma 55 Negro Amaro Malvesia XIV-11-57 Counoise Chelois Kozma 525 Tannat Syrah BV19-143
Wine Marketing: Know your clientele
Take an occasional risk!
Contributors (Thank you!) Golden Run Vineyard SCRI Grant USDA CSREES NE1020 VC Grants USDA CSREES Scott labs/lallemand Vintage Nursery UME Impact Team Grants/MAES Dura-line (Orchard Valley)
Wine was given by God, not that we might be drunken, but that we might be sober. It is the best medicine when it has moderation to direct it. Wine was given to restore the body s weakness, not to overturn the soul s strength. St. John Chrysostum (4th Century preacher)
Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D. Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit Western MD Research & Education Center 18330 Keedysville Road Keedysville, MD 21756-1104 301-432-2767 ext. 344; Fax 301-432-4089 jfiola@umd.edu http://extension.umd.edu/smallfruit