What to Know Before You Plant

March 5th, 2010

Whether you’re planting acres of vineyards or a few vines in your backyard, there are simple tests and checks that will ensure you select the right vines for your project. It‘s all about site analysis. The more you know, the more your vines will thrive.

The French call it terroir, pronounced “ter-whah”.   Terroir is a way of describing the unique aspects of a place that influences and shapes the wine made from it.

Here’s what you need to consider when assessing your site - Soil, Sun, and Water

• Soil - What type of soil will you be planting in?
• Soil types
• Loam
• Clay
• Sandy
• Rocky
• Combination
• Water holding capacity and drainage
• Soil fertility

How to:  It can be as simple as digging down 12 to 24 inches, putting a soil sample in a plastic bag, and sending it to a soils laboratory for analysis. Sunridge can recommend several excellent soils labs.

Sun exposure - how much sun, shade, wind affects your site

• Full or partial sun
• Shade
• Wind

How to:  Take an account of your site - the trees on the property, how tree roots might affect your planting site, how much wind your site is exposed to.

Water - what’s in it influences the success of your vines

• Chemistry - nutrient levels

How to: Pour approximately 12 ounces of water in a bottle or jar and take it to a water analysis laboratory or your local water agency. Important things to test for are boron and iron levels which can be toxic to your vines.

Once you’ve learned more about the soil, sun, and water at your site, you can now make educated decisions about what to plant. The result will be healthy, vigorous grape vines.

Did you know? Why mustard and roses?

• The mustard seed plants you see blooming in the vineyards are there to help add vital supplements to the soil.
• Roses planted at the end of the vine rows are there to give early warning of mildew problems.

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.