Page 57 - Grapevine MayJune 2021_REV

Around The Vineyard

ripen sufficiently in the cool Willamette Valley.

“The first 20 vines we planted in our small vine-
yard near Beaverton were Davis 108 clones,”
Fullerton told The Grapevine Magazine. “They
were monsters. They were super vigorous and kept
growing vegetatively but wouldn’t ripen. They were
used to a dryer climate.”

In 1974, David Adelsheim, co-founder of
Adelsheim Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains
AVA, spent a vintage working in Burgundy. There
he noticed that Chardonnay ripened earlier or
at the same time as Pinot Noir, whereas Oregon
growers were picking Chardonnay two weeks after
Pinot Noir.

“He figured it must be a clonal thing,” Fullerton
said.

In 1984, Adelsheim helped import some of the
earlier ripening Dijon clones he saw in France,
which turned out to be perfectly suited to Oregon’s
climate. That was a turning point in the evolution
of Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the movement Trim-N-Prun’ BTS-104HD
to bring over better clones spurred the revolution.
Growers began experimenting with other clones in
addition to classic Dijon clones, including California
heritage clones which tend to be less vigorous.

“Our climate is changing,” Fullerton said. “It’s
warmer, so it’s a good idea to get a diversity of
clones up here.”

According to Fullerton, clone selection is only part
of the Chardonnay story in Oregon. The refine- NEW Concept in
ment of site selecting, winegrowing practices, pick
times and winemaking decisions also contribute Vine Trimming & Pre-Pruning!
to Chardonnay’s continuing success. Fullerton, • Universal Hydraulic Vine & Bush Trimming, Cutter Bars.
which makes an 80% to 20% ratio of Pinot Noir • Opens foliage for better dust and spray penetration.
vs. Chardonnay, sources grapes from all over the • Adapts to almost any trellising system or terrain.
Willamette Valley. • Reduce Pruning cost over one third.
• Cuts harvest labor by easier access to crop.
For More Information Contact...
“We have a great narrative for Oregon Pinot Bechthold Tractor Service
Noir and what you get from different soils and 10755 E. Hwy. 12 • Lodi, CA 95240
AVAs, and we are starting to map that out for Phone: 209-368-2031
Chardonnay,” he told The Grapevine Magazine. Website: www.bechtholdtractor.com

877-892-5332 The Grapevine • May - June 2021 Page 55

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