Page 33 - Grapevine JanFeb 2021_REV

Around The Vineyard

Photo Credit: George Rose

length of frost free season), elevation, soil test Farming Metrics & Logistics
results, wind direction, sun exposure, and water
availability. Also Gruber pointed to the necessity Like Gruber, Scott
of assessing how much to plant of a new varietal. Zapotocky, Vice President
Plant too little and that could hamper the growth of Winegrowing for
of a successful program. Conversely, plant too Geodesy Wine’s Eola
much and there’s the risk of having more grapes Springs and Chehalem
than one can sell. Mountain Vineyards
in Oregon’s Willamette
In addition, Gruber encouraged wine marketers Valley and Sage Ridge
to examine what varietals appeal to them by asking Vineyard in Napa Valley,
these questions: What gets you interested? What grows a range of alterna-
keeps your work fresh and fun? What are other tive varieties with 17 dif-
wine markets doing, and how much does it matter ferent varieties of grapes
being “first” or “new” matter to you? planted across these three distinct vineyards. He
offered a series of practical pointers in preparing
Based on the overall assessment of those varietals blocks for conversion to new varieties from existing
that match a particular site’s profile, a winemaker’s plant material. In conducting a block assessment,
interests, and the current market, create a final he assesses the vigor potential through soil test-
list of varietals that fall in the sweet spot. Gruber ing and virus risk through plant testing to detect
remarked, “I’m looking for that combination of diseases and viruses like Leaf Roll, Fan Leaf, Red
what I like, what grows where I live, and what the blotch, and trunk disease, as well as determining
market wants.” if a trellis retrofit or redesign is needed. He then
ascertains if he can mitigate any issues that arise

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