Page 52 - Grapevine May-June 2020
P. 52
Around The Vineyard
to the selection and management of “icon” parcels.
Here is their chance to criticize mine.
A Smart Approach to Selection
and Management of Icon Vineyards
When I think of growing fruit suitable for an icon
wine, I think of an analogy involving a suspended
chain holding a weight. Each link in the chain is a
different thickness and represents a different vine-
Call Us Today yard attribute or management process. The weight
315.904.4007 at the bottom is related to the wine quality out-
• WILDLIFE CONTROL come and will be heaviest for an icon wine.
• TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT The point of this analogy is that if any one link
• TRELLIS/FENCE SUPPLIES fails, then the whole chain is rendered useless.
• IRRIGATION/HARVEST SUPPLIES Those processes or attributes which are the most
• POSTS/WIRE important can be represented by weaker links in
the chain. In other words, it is more important
to get these right than some other management
Finger Lakes Trellis Supply options or attributes, which can be represented
5790 Route 104 by stronger links. The important point here is that
Williamson, NY 14589 if any link fails, then the whole chain fails, and the
www.FLTSupply.com wine quality goal will not be met.
sales@fingerlakestrellissupply.com
These are the factors which I think are import-
ant in growing icon wine, arranged more or less in
order of priority. The weaker links, which deserve
the most attention, are towards the top.
1. The right climate-variety-clone combination:
I see little sense in trying to make an icon wine
from a variety that has no possibility of being
especially distinctive. If the variety you have
chosen does not already have a reputation for
premium wine quality in your region or else-
where, then the possibility of creating a true
icon wine is limited. Please note that I am not
endorsing only the limited number of “interna-
tional varieties.” Icon wines can be made from
many varieties, and in a perverse way, it will be
likely easier to have wine press attention if you
use a not-so-popular variety.
I mention clone because, for some varieties like
Pinot Noir, the clone chosen can have a signifi-
cant outcome on wine quality.
2. Vineyard uniformity and vigour: There is little
prospect of making an icon wine from a very
large vineyard or one of low uniformity. A uni-
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