Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/230154
season saw no unusual problems from diseases or insects, but there wasn't much of a crop left to enjoy the conditions. Texas growers collectively processed about 10%20% of a normal harvest. "In Texas, our battle cry is 'Wait 'til next year,'" Hellman said, with as much sincerity as he could muster. "We expect 2014 to be excellent." ONTARIO Winter injury and frost damage are almost unheard of in Ontario, where wind machines are obligatory in vineyards. "Before 2000, a winter like the past one would have been devastating," said Andy Reynolds, professor of biological sciences and viticulture at Brock University. "Winter and frost damage is never a non-issue. But today, it is less of an issue." The 2012 vintage set the stage 60 V I N E YA R D & WINE RY MANAGEM ENT | for heavy flowering. Ideal amounts of sunlight and temperatures jump-started vines, and growers dropped crop on vineyards, mostly those planted to pinot noir and Bordeaux varieties. Summer rains brought on some downy mildew, and August was cool. But a warm, dry September saved the season. The pinots – noir, gris and blanc – which often have sour rot, came in clean. Growers had the luxury of allowing Bordeaux varieties to hang into early November, attaining 22 to 23 °Brix – about normal, Reynolds said. Yields are expected to be 20%30% higher than normal, with good-quality fruit. NEW JERSEY Some New Jersey growers who were not prepared for the June and July rains saw their crops severe- Jan - Feb 2014 ly damaged by moisture-related diseases. "If you didn't time the sprays just right, you lost everything," said Gary Pavlis, agricultural agent at Rutgers University. But the majority of growers kept on top of it. While some early frost reduced fruit set, the yield amount for 2013 should prove very good, he said. Autumn was beautiful, with warm, rainless days, giving growers time to get their grapes riper than normal. An extreme example came from the Rutgers research vineyard, where cynthiana reached a whopping 28 °Brix. "I have a feeling much of the wine from 2013 will be fabulous," Pavlis said, echoing the view of several in the East who saw good fruit coming from a troubled year. "Who is better at controlling for the vagaries of the weather than the growers in the East?" w w w. v wm m e d i a . c o m