Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/620640
3 0 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J a n - F e b 2 016 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m Many growers also significant- ly increased their crop loads in an attempt to delay ripening and keep fruit in balance. "These last two years, I wasn't shooting for two and a half tons per acre like I normally would," Sokol Blosser said. "I was shooting for three and a half." "2014 was certainly a year to hang a heavier crop," agreed wine- grower Mimi Casteel of Bethel Heights Vineyard in Salem. How- ever, she took a different approach in 2015. "Because it was hot year after hot year, I worried about the vines," she said. "I didn't want to push them for another year, espe- cially if it was going to be droughty at the end of the season." Instead, C a s t e e l c a r r i e d a l a r g e r c r o p through veraison and then dropped significant amounts of fruit. Despite growers' attempts to provide better protection from the blazing hot sun, many vineyards still suffered from sunburn. "I think pretty much everybody saw some level of sun damage," Casteel said. "That was certainly true for us." However, the larger crop also meant growers could make sure the resulting wines weren't affected, either by dropping the sunburned fruit or picking around it. "We waited to drop crop as late as possible, so as to incorporate sunburn dropping as part of our initial or secondary fruit-dropping passes," said Josh Bergström of Bergström Wines in Newberg. PUSHED TO CAPACITY The warm growing seasons of 2014 and 2015 created challenges at A to Z Wineworks in Newberg. The warm, dry temperatures also have created challenges for the valley's many dry-farmed vine- yards. "We've had to irrigate some areas in our dry-farm sites because we noticed that the canopies had stopped growing a little earlier in the season," Collins said. In 2015, Mimi Casteel of Bethel Heights carried a larger crop, then dropped fruit after veraison. For Powdery Mildew and Mite control, grape growers have a choice: JMS Stylet-Oil alternative to early-season sulfur treatment. • Outperforms sulfur as an eradicant on powdery mildew - University researched and rated 10/10. • JMS Stylet-Oil is a stand-alone product for powdery mildew. • Eliminates early season inoculum growth that can cause late-season epidemics. • Unlike sulfur, JMS Stylet-Oil works well in cool weather, protects around the clock, and harmlessly degrades without potential air pollution. Apply this clean white oil early for mite control throughout the season. JMS Stylet-Oil is now available in its conven- tional formulation or an organic formula- tion that is OMRI listed for use in an organic program. Contact JMS for complete information and product data. • Powdery Mildew? • Mites? Headquarters 4423 5th Place SW Vero Beach, FL 32968 Mobile: (772) 713-0758 Fax: (772) 562-7202 styletoil@aol.com www.stylet-oil.com 73585 Williams Lane Pendleton, OR 97801 Office: (541) 276-8566 Fax: (541) 276-6245 styletoil@eoni.com JMS Stylet-Oil ® Choice C M Y CM MY CY CMY K JMSWineDex20112.pdf 1 11/15/11 3:48 PM NORTHWEST WATCH SEAN P. SULLIVAN