http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31 Winemaker Journal Sun, 19 May 2013 20:14:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-4759 Bill Tonkins Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:09:41 +0000 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31#comment-4759 Very many thanks. I am about to send it to our publishers now. Very many thanks. I am about to send it to our publishers now.

]]> http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-4675 admin Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:36:11 +0000 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31#comment-4675 Permission granted. Permission granted.

]]> http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-4638 Bill Tonkins Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:14:15 +0000 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31#comment-4638 This is a good article which has from the comments generated some lively discussion. I would, therefore, like your permission to reproduce it in our Virginia Vineyards Association Grape press and invite comment from our members? This is a good article which has from the comments generated some lively discussion. I would, therefore, like your permission to reproduce it in our Virginia Vineyards Association Grape press and invite comment from our members?

]]> http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-4323 Andrew Hodson Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:21:36 +0000 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31#comment-4323 I am concerned that we tend to make generalities that make it easier not to be specific about one's own particular terroir. It is meaningless to talk about "tons per acre" if the density of planting is not included. It is far more useful to talk in terms of Kilograms or Pounds per plant or for that matter weight per linear foot of cordon depending on the training system. From personal experience pruning tactics do not determine the out put per vine in vigorous soils like we have in Virginia. In 2005 -following the line of reasoning that less fruit per vine would improve quality I pruned my vines so that they would yield one bunch per shoot - that did indeed reduce the number of bunches but each bunch was twice the size - so I got exactly the same yield - except the skin to pulp ratio was markedly reduced so that the quality of wine was reduced. A lesson to those who think they can fool Mother Nature. I am concerned that we tend to make generalities that make it easier not to be specific about one’s own particular terroir.
It is meaningless to talk about “tons per acre” if the density of planting is not included.
It is far more useful to talk in terms of Kilograms or Pounds per plant or for that matter weight per linear foot of cordon depending on the training system.
From personal experience pruning tactics do not determine the out put per vine in vigorous soils like we have in Virginia.
In 2005 -following the line of reasoning that less fruit per vine would improve quality I pruned my vines so that they would yield one bunch per shoot - that did indeed reduce the number of bunches but each bunch was twice the size - so I got exactly the same yield - except the skin to pulp ratio was markedly reduced so that the quality of wine was reduced.
A lesson to those who think they can fool Mother Nature.

]]> http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-4320 Steve Felten Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:43:00 +0000 http://artisanfamilyofwines.com/blog/?p=31#comment-4320 Articles like these are counterproductive, even if they are accurate, because it gives growers an excuse to misinterpret your advice and continue to hang 6 or 8 tons per acre. There has been a 'rural legend' going around for decades about some Napa grower that lied to a winery and got a 95 in the Speculator for high-yield fruit. Growers glom onto these rumors. It's like trying to tell my wife not to keep an inside straight on the video poker machine, and sure enough she hits one, and will never listen to me again. Despite the rare exception, year in and year out you need to drop substantial fruit to have any hope of making a decent wine. Articles like these are counterproductive, even if they are accurate, because it gives growers an excuse to misinterpret your advice and continue to hang 6 or 8 tons per acre. There has been a ‘rural legend’ going around for decades about some Napa grower that lied to a winery and got a 95 in the Speculator for high-yield fruit. Growers glom onto these rumors. It’s like trying to tell my wife not to keep an inside straight on the video poker machine, and sure enough she hits one, and will never listen to me again. Despite the rare exception, year in and year out you need to drop substantial fruit to have any hope of making a decent wine.

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