I'm spreading the word about a grass roots campaign that is
close to my heart. It was started by a Dallas blogger, Andrew Chalk.
He wants to redefine the 'Go Texan' wine label to mean 100% Texas-grown
grapes. As you might know, the 'Go Texan' wine label does not require
the use of any Texas-grown grapes. Much of the wine sold with this
label is simply California bulk wine shipped to Texas and bottled here.
It isn't even fermented in Texas.
If you are interested in this,
please send your opinion to Lindsay Dickens
(gotexan@TexasAgriculture.gov) before the December 5th
deadline. The email can be as simple as 'Please define 'Go Texan' wine
to be 100% Texas-grown grapes', but please put your own spin on it.
Government agencies toss identical emails, so your voice won't be heard.
1. High-light and copy the email address: gotexan@TexasAgriculture.gov
2. Go to your email program and paste the address into the 'to' field (clicking on the email address may do this automatically)
3. Use the subject line ''Go Texan' wine should mean 100% Texas grapes'
4. Write your version of 'Please define 'Go Texan' wine to be 100% Texas-grown grapes'
5. Click send.
Andrew Chalk, the Dallas blogger writes: "Stop and do it now! It means more
demand for Texas wine. More demand for Texas grapes. More planting of
wine grapes in the state, and less California bulk wine passed off on
consumers who think they are buying a Texas wine."
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
2013 season ending... how did we do?
We got the 2013 vine inventory done and started reviewing the data. How did we do when compared to the 2012 forecast (as described in the 2012 annual report).
We have a lot more seedlings growing than expected (1215 total vines, but expected only 900)
We had a lot less growth than expected (166 vines over waist high, but expected 320). Water problems account for some of that, but a lot of the 2012 seedlings just don't like the soil here and hardly grew at all.
We had a lot fewer vines producing ripe berries ( got 7 brix tests, but 'hoped' for 141). This was the worst forecast. We had a very late frost that decimated blossoms, but at best we were going to get 30 vines producing berries, not 141. An entirely new forecast needed here.
We exceeded expectations when it came to October ripening berries (3 late ripening vines. Only forecasted 1).
What 2013 has shown us is this: Texas vineyards need vines with a late May Floraison (blooming date). The most important breeding goal isn't PD tolerance, or an October harvest. If you don't have flowers, you don't get a crop. No crop and the vineyard goes under. If your flowers come out in April or March, the annual 'late frost' around Easter will cause them all to drop. If they are late, like the three new seedlings that produced this year, the late frost doesn't matter. In our case, we had a 75% loss of crop due to the May frost. From what I hear from the High Plains, the late frost was equally devastating.
Fortunately, we require only a minor course correction. In a sense, the river bottom location has always demanded it, whether we recognized it or not. We get an exceptionally late frost almost every year, at least compared to north-central Texas, which itself is more prone to late frosts than most other places in the US. Since we have local vines, adapted to this freakishly late-frost prone Central Texas river bottom, we have some genetic material that ought to be a good starting point for late floraison. It has been part of the 'October grape plan.' Late ripening and late flowering go together. The change in perspective is the focus on florasion itself. After another year of harvesting, it is clear that Aug harvests are a hassle, but they pay. The meager crop left after a late frost makes the August heat a non-issue in comparison. To sum it up, we need to be clear about breeding to push floraison into late May.
We have a lot more seedlings growing than expected (1215 total vines, but expected only 900)
We had a lot less growth than expected (166 vines over waist high, but expected 320). Water problems account for some of that, but a lot of the 2012 seedlings just don't like the soil here and hardly grew at all.
We had a lot fewer vines producing ripe berries ( got 7 brix tests, but 'hoped' for 141). This was the worst forecast. We had a very late frost that decimated blossoms, but at best we were going to get 30 vines producing berries, not 141. An entirely new forecast needed here.
We exceeded expectations when it came to October ripening berries (3 late ripening vines. Only forecasted 1).
What 2013 has shown us is this: Texas vineyards need vines with a late May Floraison (blooming date). The most important breeding goal isn't PD tolerance, or an October harvest. If you don't have flowers, you don't get a crop. No crop and the vineyard goes under. If your flowers come out in April or March, the annual 'late frost' around Easter will cause them all to drop. If they are late, like the three new seedlings that produced this year, the late frost doesn't matter. In our case, we had a 75% loss of crop due to the May frost. From what I hear from the High Plains, the late frost was equally devastating.
Fortunately, we require only a minor course correction. In a sense, the river bottom location has always demanded it, whether we recognized it or not. We get an exceptionally late frost almost every year, at least compared to north-central Texas, which itself is more prone to late frosts than most other places in the US. Since we have local vines, adapted to this freakishly late-frost prone Central Texas river bottom, we have some genetic material that ought to be a good starting point for late floraison. It has been part of the 'October grape plan.' Late ripening and late flowering go together. The change in perspective is the focus on florasion itself. After another year of harvesting, it is clear that Aug harvests are a hassle, but they pay. The meager crop left after a late frost makes the August heat a non-issue in comparison. To sum it up, we need to be clear about breeding to push floraison into late May.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
First fall frost for 2013
We had a frost this morning. The top of my car had that nice hard beady ice on top, though the patio thermometer said 39. I haven't seen any damage, yet. The new shoots growing from 2 cuttings seemed ok.
I'm still doing my 'seedling inventory'. This was day 3 and I'm still not finished. 1/4 of one row left, but it was getting dark and a cold wind was kicking up... so, I'll finish next weekend. Typing all my notes into Excel, and making my 2014 forecast will be a additional full day, though.
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