Ohio Grape-Wine Electronic Newsletter

Editor: Imed Dami, PhD
Assistant Professor and Extension Viticulture Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691-4096
Phone: (330)-263-3882
Fax: (330)-263-3887
E-mail: dami.1@osu.edu
 www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/grapeweb/

 
8 June 2007
 
 
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 Content:

Nitrogen Fertilization
"Ohio Quality Wines" Debut
2007 ASEV-E Meeting in PA
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 Nitrogen Fertilization in the Vineyard
By: Imed Dami, HCS-OARDC

 Dr. Tim Martinson, State Viticulturist at Cornell University, was one of the featured speakers at the 2007 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference. He gave an excellent presentation on nitrogen fertilization based on research conducted by a team led Dr. Terry Bates in New York. I have summarized the highlights of the study and take home message. The full article is published in the Proceedings (HCS Series 753). Please contact me for a copy of the article.
 
-  Nitrogen (N) is supplied naturally in the soil primarily through the breakdown of organic matter. Every 1% of organic content in the soil supplies 15 to 20 lbs of N/acre/year. Thus measuring the organic content of your soil is important to determine how much N to supplement to vines.
-  Most N (75%) is stored in the roots of dormant vines. The stored reserves supply N for most of the vine’s spring growth prior to bloom.
- Most N uptake by the vine occurs at 2 periods: 2-3 weeks prior to bloom and 2- 6 weeks after bloom. Vines take up only 10% of N applied at budbreak, but double the rate of N uptake near bloom. Thus, it is not recommended to apply N at bud break.
-  There is no magic number of lb/acre of N to supply to vines each season. Why? Because the amount of N fertilizer in the vineyard depends on several factors including grape variety, organic matter content, and water holding capacity of soil, leachability, vine vigor, and production goals (yield vs. quality). Generally, Concord and hybrids for bulk wine are managed to maximize yield thus N supply is highest. Vinifera and premium hybrids are managed for moderate yield and maximum fruit and wine quality. Thus N supply is in the lower end of spectrum.  
-  The grower needs to determine rates of N for each variety and sometime each block of the vineyard. As a guideline, N requirement ranges between 30 lb/acre for vinifera and 50 lb/acre for Concord and hybrids.  Therefore, using the same rate for the whole vineyard will be not wise and results in a waste of money and negative environmental impact.
- Example: The study in New York showed that Concord vines use about 50 lb of N/acre each season. Therefore, 50 lb/acre of N needs to be replenished each season in order to maintain yield and vine size. It was found that 40 lb/acre are supplied naturally by the 2% organic matter in the soil. If N is taken up at a 25% efficiency, then applying fertilizer at 40 lb/acre of N will supply the remainder 10 lb/acre (i.e. 40 x 25% = 10). 
 
Take Home Message:
- Test your soils periodically (3-5 years) to determine organic matter and soil pH and amend as necessary.
- Best timing of N application = between pre-bloom to 1-2 weeks after bloom.
- Split N application if leaching is a problem (e.g. in sandy soils). 
- N status in the vine is best determined by observing vine growth during the season and not by soil or petiole tests.
- Evaluate vine growth (canopy fill, internode length, leaf color, and pruning weights) and adjust N fertilization rates on a block-by block basis.
- For economical (rising cost of N fertilizers) and environmental (leaching, run-off) reasons, you may consider adding organic matter to vineyards to increase N supply from natural sources while improving many soil characteristics.
- Maintain detailed records on N inputs, soil organic matter, vine growth, and yield to develop a more efficient N fertilization program for your vineyard.

"Ohio Quality Wines" - Quality Assurance Program - is Up and Running!

(Editor's Note: "Ohio Quality Wines", an assurance quality program of Ohio wines, made its debut during the 2007 Ohio Wine Competition. I've enclosed 2 press releases of the results of the first ever OQW! For more information about this new program, please contact OGIC office at 614-728-4216).

PRESS RELEASE

 

Ohio Quality Wines – The Seal Ohio’s Premier Wines Will Wear

 
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (June 5, 2007) – For decades Ohio wines have been known as pink, sweet, party wines. However, this notion is quickly becoming extinct. The Ohio Quality Wine (OQW) program recently awarded 41 of Ohio’s finest wines with the opportunity to wear the first-ever OQW seal.
 
To help consumers uncover which Ohio wines have met these high-quality standards, a special label will be added to the bottles of the 41wines that passed the evaluation process. “This seal will provide an easy and reliable way for consumers, especially with limited wine knowledge, to choose a high-quality, locally-made wine that they can proudly serve their guests,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert  J. Boggs.
 
The program was established by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee and the Viticulture and Enology Program at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center to promote awareness of Ohio wine quality among consumers by identifying Ohio’s finest homegrown wines. The OQW held its first judging in conjunction with the Ohio Wine Competition on May 16 in Wooster. Wines made in Ohio by commercially-licensed wineries from a minimum of 90 percent Ohio grapes, specifically Vinifera, French and American hybrids, and American native wines (port and sherry production only) were eligible to participate. More than 85 Ohio wines submitted samples for the OQW program which included sensory evaluation by a panel of well-renowned judges, as well as chemical analysis. Only eligible wines that earned 15 points or more in a 20-point scale were considered.
 
Ohio is home to more than 96 wineries which produce more than 696,000 gallons of wine per year. To learn more about Ohio’s wine industry visit www.tasteohiowines.com.

The following Ohio wines received the Ohio Quality Wine seal:

Breitenbach Wine Cellars, Dover Debonne Vineyards, Madison  Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Geneva Firelands Winery, Sandusky Grand River Cellars, Madison Harpersfield Vineyards, Geneva Henke Winery, Cincinnati Hermes Vineyards, Sandusky Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake Meier’s Wine Cellars, Inc., Cincinnati Meranda-Nixon Winery, Ripley Raven’s Glenn Winery, West Lafayette St. Joseph Vineyard, Thompson Stoney Ridge Winery, Bryan Valley Vineyards, Morrow
PA Hosts the 2007 ASEV-E Conference
By: Mark Chien, ASEV-E Secretary & Viticulture Extension Educator at Penn State University

What:           American Society for Enology and Viticulture Eastern Section Annual Conference and Symposium

Where:  Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

When:           July 15-17, 2007

Registration and information available at http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev/ or call Mark Chien at 717-394-6851
 
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture Eastern Section’s annual technical conference and symposium will be held near Allentown, Pennsylvania on July 15-17.  The site for the meeting is the Holiday Inn Conference Center right in the heart of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail ( http://www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com/). This is the best opportunity of the year for growers and researchers to interact and learn what the other is doing in the lab and in the field!
 
Day 1, Sunday, July 15 will feature a bus tour of four Lehigh Valley wineries.  Each visit will include a tour of the vineyard and winery and a tasting of their wines hosted by the proprietor.  We will start the day at Pinnacle Ridge Vineyards where some of the best bubbly and red wines in the state are made.  Lunch will enjoyed among the beautiful rolling hills at Galen Glen Vineyards in their new tasting room.  Vynecrest Vineyards has been a test vineyard for new NYSAES hybrids for many years and may be one of the first producers of Traminette.  Finally, Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery, one of the largest wineries in Pennsylvania will be our host for dinner in their spectacular new hospitality center.  Space on the bus tour is limited so be sure to sign up early. 
 
Days 2 and 3, Monday and Tuesday are devoted to the business of ASEV-ES, that is, presenting the latest in homegrown viticulture and enology research that will have a direct benefit to the wine industry in the Eastern Section region.  The theme for this year’s symposium is “Soil Moisture and Vine Vigor.”  Grape growers in the Midwest and East know that vine vigor, usually too much of it, is a constant challenge to achieving a balanced vine and high wine quality.  A distinguished group of researchers will address this issue.  Graduate student research papers will be presented and the Best Paper Award.  There are also many invited papers.  The full program is still being developed and will be available soon. 
 
This was the first year that a ASEV-ES scholarship auction was held at Wineries Unlimited at their new site at the Valley Forge Convention Center.  It was a great success and ASEV-ES thanks Rob Merletti and his staff at Vineyard and Winery Management for their support and cooperation.  They did a superb job.  ASEV-ES offers scholarships to graduate students in the field of viticulture and enology.  These young people, whether they decide to pursue careers in research or industry, represent the future of our industry and they need and deserve our support.  ASEV-ES will announce this year’s scholarship award winners.  
 
ASEV-ES is all about good food and wine and celebrating our industry.  The awards banquet will be held on Monday and a Pennsylvania wine lunch on Tuesday.  There will be plenty of wines from around the Eastern Section region to be tasted. 
 
While grapes and wines will be the focus for three days there are plenty of activities for those who want something else to do.  Nearby attractions include Dorney Amusement Park and the Crayola Crayon Factory in Easton.  The Delaware River Valley is a scenic historic area that includes waterfalls, canals, artist towns and Washington Crossing.  Bethlehem is known for steel but now its charming old town attracts visitors to shops and restaurants. Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish country is only an hour away. And, of course, there are the wineries in the area to enjoy.  You can find tons of tourist information at http://www.lehighvalleypa.org/.  
 
The Holiday Inn Lehigh Valley Conference Center ( http://www.hilehighvalley.com/) will be the location for our meeting.  It is very conveniently located near the junctions of I-78, Rt 100, the PA Turnpike and I-476.  A special ASEV-ES conference rate of $126/nt is being offered (mention this when making your reservation). Book your room as soon as possible before the block of rooms expires.  Please take advantage of this by staying at the hotel with your fellow grape nuts!  ASEV-ES is as much about fellowship with other wine industry folks, interaction with research and extension and tasting our fine wines as it is about lectures and learning! 

If you are an industry professional and NOT a member of ASEV-ES please consider joining us!  The annual dues is only $35.  You can find membership forms on the web site.  Find registration forms and more information about the conference and ASEV-ES at http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev/