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Cook Vineyard Weekly Newsletter 8.6.12

We all know a balanced vine makes a great wine grape. This time of year we take this knowledge and implement into our farming practice. Quality versus Quantity is another way to look at it.

So how much fruit should be removed to make a quality wine grape and should we irrigate?

There are a lot of variables in the fruit drop equation, but the standard is two clusters per shoot on a healthy shoot and one cluster on shorter shoots, (a short shoot is defined as less than two foot tall.) We also look at the plants health and determine how much fruit the vine can ripen evenly and always remove the second crop during veraison. (Second crop is located above the fruit zone)

Our weather has been on the cool side, but warmer weather is predicted so we are not cutting back on our irrigation at this time. Irrigation is a very important component in quality. Our goal this time of year is to keep the vines hydrated, but allowing them to stress a little without hurting the balance of the vine or its grape clusters.

If anyone wants to visit us in the vineyards to learn more about the world of viticulture, please call us at 707.490.8921. Also check our website  www.cvmgrapes.com.