Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/72545
VINEYARD EAST COAST WATCH slopes ("good for shedding surface rain") and thin, low-water-retentive soils. Being mostly in a frost-free zone is another obvious plus, Law noted. Planted at elevations of 1,200-1,400 feet, Linden Vineyards in Virginia is one of the East's oldest mountain estates. In general, Fauquier and other neighboring coun- Vineyard & Winery ManagementThe many brands of ties do not suffer frost damage as much as many other regions in Virginia. Yet there are no guarantees. Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars is one Virginia vint- ner who learned this the hard way in 2010, when temperatures dropped to 27°F one spring morning at his 7-acre vineyard. He estimated that 90% of his crop was destroyed, as were vines at Tarara and other Loudoun County estates. Among the problems at Linden Vineyards, Law mentioned the fog, mist and low clouds that are pri- marily problematic in spring, when they promote phomopsis and other fungal issues. One important cautionary note from Law: Prospective high-altitude vintners must not overlook the additional expenses involved in establishing and maintaining vineyards on steep, rocky slopes, among them costs for hand labor to work small plots, small production, and crop loss due to weather. Colomé's Johnson advised: "Have a flexible bud- get. Contingencies can be 50% or higher." VARIETY VARIANCE While Law has had considerable success growing vinifera vines at Linden, he hesitates to make broad recommendations about specific varieties. "It is hard to generalize about growing conditions in the Blue Ridge region," he said. Each soil and microclimate can lead to different varietal success stories. Here at my estate vineyard called 'Hardscrabble,' the steep, eroded south-facing slopes are best for cabernet sauvignon, while merlot and chardonnay prefer more clay." Sauvignon blanc, which he grows at Hardscrabble vwm-online.com and at Avenius, another steep vineyard located a mile farther up the ridge, at 1,300 feet, likes the same soils as cabernet but can handle a bit more clay. "In any case, the viticultural mantra for quality is to ripen 34 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT JULY - AUG 2012 WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM