Grapevine Rootstocks for Oregon Vineyards

February 10th, 2010

If you are considering a vineyard planting in any of the number of Oregon American Viticultural Areas/Appellations, it is best recommended that a rootstock be considered in your planning.  Rootstocks are one of the most important ways grape growers can better manage for a variety of vineyard problems and improve quality.  Grape rootstocks contribute to pest and disease resistance including phylloxera and resistance to other soil-borne pests, such as nematodes.  Furthermore, the use of rootstocks can help lessen vineyard problems due to soil conditions such as pH extremes, excess salt and nutrients.  They can also improve adaptability to local climatic conditions such as shortened growing seasons, drought and excessively cool or hot growing conditions.

Important Rootstock Considerations

• Phylloxera resistance – Rootstocks are most commonly used to prevent soil pests or diseases, the most important being phylloxera and nematodes.
• Soil Adaption - Rootstocks are selected for their adaptation to particular soil and climate conditions.
• Drought Tolerance – Drought tolerance is an important consideration if irrigation will not be used.
• Modified Vigor –Choosing a rootstock that has the ability to modify the vigor of the scion is an important option.
• Advanced Maturity – The use of rootstocks on fruit ripening is of interest in cool-climate regions such as Oregon.

Rootstock Selections
The following are proven rootstocks in Oregon and perform well under our weather, soil and environmental conditions.

101-14 Mgt

• Vitis Parentage – Riparia x rupestris
• Phylloxera Resistance - High
• Nematode Resistance
  • Root Knot – Medium to High
  • Dagger – Medium to High
  • Ring - High
• Tolerance
  • Drought – Low to Medium
  • Wet Soil - Medium
  • Salinity - High
  • Lime – Low to Medium
• Influence on Scion
  • Vigor – Medium

Comments – Second most used rootstock in Oregon, requires deep soil, moist clay soils, tolerates wet soils, induces low yield-to-pruning ratios, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites.

3309 C

• Vitis Parentage – Riparia x rupestris
• Phylloxera Resistance - High
• Nematode Resistance
  • Root Knot – Low
  • Dagger – Low
  • Ring – Very Low
• Tolerance
  • Drought – Low to Medium
  • Wet Soil –Low to Medium
  • Salinity – Low to Medium
  • Lime – Low to Medium
• Influence on Scion
  • Vigor – Low to Medium

Comments – Most widely used rootstock in Oregon, prefers deep, well-drained soil with good water-holding capacity, vines on this rootstock tend to over-crop, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites, sensitive to latent viruses, tolerant of cold injury.

Riparia gloire

• Vitis Parentage – Riparia
• Phylloxera Resistance – Very High
• Nematode Resistance
  • Root Knot – Low
  • Dagger – Low
  • Ring - Low
• Tolerance
  • Drought – Low
  • Wet Soil –Low
  • Salinity – Medium
  • Lime – Low
• Influence on Scion
  • Vigor – Very Low to Medium

Comments – Third most used rootstock in Oregon prefers deep, well-drained, fertile and moist soils, good choice for fertile sites where low yields are desired, not recommended for dry nonirrigated sites, early maturation, scions tend to overbear.

Malbec Clones

December 2nd, 2009

Outside of the Pinot Noir buzz we have had over the past few seasons, one of our most popular varietals has been Malbec (Or Cot as our French Entav counterparts call the variety).  Over the past few seasons we have added a few new French clones to our catalog.  With those along with the few selections from California, growers have a decent amount of options when choosing for their new development.

California Clones:

FPS #4 –
Selected from Bordeaux originally by FPS.  Not much data available.  Was used in a trial in Oakville during the late 1990s that did not show much difference between the 3 CA clones available at the time.

FPS #6 –
Also used in the Oakville trial.  Clone experiences very bad blossom drop/shatter and was the lowest yielding clone in the trial.

FPS #9 –
The main clone we have used in California vineyards before Entav.  It is reported to be clone #180 from France.  #180 is a highly vigorous selection that can experience blossom drop/shatter issues.

FPS #10/11 –
These clones are different heat treatments of what is reported to be clone 46 from France.  This is the most widely planted clone in the Cahors region.  According to French data, clone 46 is one of the higher yielding clones due to its superior fertility.

Entav Clones:

#595 EV –
First selection imported through the program.  Most proven of the French selections.  Slightly lower vigor than other clones and can cooperate more at fruit set.  Earlier ripening clone that originated in the Cahors region.

#596 EV –
Newly imported selection from Cahors.  More widely planted in France than clone #595.  In clonal wine tastings in California with Entav, wines have been very similar to #595.

#598 EV –
Another newly imported clone from the Cahors region.  Most widely planted clone in France of the Entav selections.  In wine tastings it has been a real standout between the three with a more unique flavor profile.

Overall, there is not much data available on Malbec clones.  This is mainly a breakdown of what is out there and available.  In those areas that have major issues with set, a lower vigor rootstock is the main thing growers can do to see improvements.  Outside of that, the French Entav clones seem to fair better as well, but you can get further by making the right rootstock selection.

Please contact your local Sunridge Vineyard Representative to get the current plant availability of these selections.

Dear Valued Customer

August 3rd, 1998

Its is with great pleasure and excitement that we send you this enclosed announcement regarding our new offerings of trademarked French clones of scions and rootstocks, now available at Sunridge Nurseries Inc.

This project is the culmination of more than three years of negotiations with ENTAV, the French National Technical Center for the Improvement of Viticulture, in an alliance that may be a turning point for the California Viticultural industry. As the highest authority in France for the selection and preservation of French grapevine clones, ENTAV has trademarked more than 663 certified clones and has sought to market them through Sunridge Nurseries for our customer’s vineyards.

Sunridge has now developed mother blocks of the clones noted in the enclosed announcement, which come directly from the ENTAV repositories in France. The material is not only guaranteed as to its authenticity, but has been tested and found to be free of disease. This will provide new varieties and new clonal selections of popular French varieties to meet the growing demand for premium California vines. Not only are we tapping into more than the thirty years of research and field testing, accomplished by ENTAV, but we will now be able to provide diversity to vineyards that California does not presently have.

We are very enthusiastic about this new endeavor and we welcome your inquiries. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to hearing from you.

Click here to view the Entav-Intra clonal selections.

Certified French Grapevine Material to be Available in California

July 1st, 1998

California winegrape growers will soon be able to purchase certified grapevine clonal selections and new varieties from France under an agreement reached in May between California nurseries and French authorities. The first grafting material will be available next year in small quantities from Sunridge Nurseries Inc. in Bakersfield, Calif., said Sunridge President Glen Stoller. The product will be offered to growers in three forms: green growing bench grafts, dormant bench grafts, or as budwood for grafting purposes, said Sunridge Vice President Craig Stoller.

Initially, the nursery has 8 rootstock clones and 37 clones of varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Semillon, Syrah and Viognier. According to Craig Stoller, there are several different clones within each variety. For example, there are four different Cabernet Sauvignon and four different Chardonnay clones. Characteristics of each clone vary, giving growers different options to accommodate their needs. For instance, one variety may have a Muscat flavor while another variety will ripen earlier in the vineyard. They include characteristics that the French have screened for and find valuable in winegrape production, Stoller added.

The efforts to bring the French material into the country have been in the works for three years, Glen Stoller noted. The signing between Sunridge and ENTAV, the French National Technical Center for the Improvement of Viticulture, took place on May 29. The agreement gives Sunridge permission to license, import, produce and market ENTAV’s certified grapevine clonal selections under the trademark ENTAV-INRA.

“This trademark, ENTAV-INRA, substantiates that these clones have been studied by both ENTAV and INRA and the origin and authenticity of the clones are guaranteed,” said Rober Boidron, director of ENTAV.

Sunridge Nurseries was prompted to propagate French clones by “the demand from the industry for more diversified clonal materials that were sanitary and clean,” Glen Stoller said.

Stoller added that Sunridge chose French materials because they have more genetic diversity in their clones, offering growers more variety.

The varieties chosen by Sunridge are either currently grown in the United States or ones that had the most interest from California growers. According to Glen Stoller, there are already some French clones in California, but their authenticity can’t be positively identified because most were smuggled in and there is no certainty that the clones are from the same origin.

The 37 clones and eight rootstocks have been through quarantine, and Sunridge is presently planting in mother blocks the blown-up material, which should be available by next year. Additional clones have been brought into the Foundation Plant Material Services at US Davis, where they are under quarantine. These clones won’t be ready for one to two years.

Cuttings coming into the country from France are quarantined for 18 months, where they are tested for diseases. If there are any positive viruses, the plants are destroyed. Following the screening process and quarantine clearance, the plants are supplied to Sunridge Nurseries, where they are placed in greenhouses. The cuttings from these plants are then propagated. When the numbers increase, they are taken from the greenhouse and planted to a vineyard site where they are grafted.

“It’s the next generation of wine. The French have done a lot of work very scientifically; they select their clones after more than 30 years of experimenting and testing,” Craig Stoller said. “We’re going to benefit from their research, which is great.”

The demand for material has been there for the past six or seven years, he said, adding that demand is expected to be strong as material becomes available.