Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/230154
HarvestReport2013 season's start back a few weeks, said Tony Wolf, professor of viticulture at Virginia Tech. Scattered frost in April and mid-May hit the northern part of the state and affected yields a bit. Rain was heavy in the summer and caused problems with fruit set. An excess of 12 inches of rain fell in July, compared to an average of less than 4 inches. Growers worked to stay on top of downy mildew. August, September and October were dry, if a bit cooler than normal, making way for acid retention in the grapes. Growers sought to let red fruit hang to draw down the malic acids. The year brought a menagerie of animals to the vineyards, including squirrels, deer and bears. Central Piedmont and Northern Virginia ended up with very good fruit, even though some growers resorted to field-sorting with cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. Fruit that was in w w w. v w m m e d i a.com good shape going into the rain came out mostly unscathed, Wolf said. MICHIGAN The growing season in Michigan couldn't have been better – that is, until veraison. Grapes emerged from a mild winter with no damage into a frost-free spring. Bud break and bloom were on time. With vines bouncing back from low yields in 2012, fruit set was promising, said Dr. Paolo Sabbatini, assistant professor of horticulture for Michigan State University. Lots of spring rain meant vigorous vines, and a threat of the fungal disease phomopsis. A strange drop in temperature at the end of July and into August stunted grape development. Daytime highs in the 60s barely moved the needle on ripening and set grapes back two or three weeks. As early ripeners, chardonnay and pinot gris weren't greatly Riesling remained on the vines until November in some northwestern areas of Michigan. Photo: 2 Lads Winery J a n - Feb 2014 | V INE YA RD & W INE RY M A N A G EM EN T 57